This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment The decision on how to voice down a hammer has to take into = consideration just where the hammer is hard. You can really divide the = voicing issue into two areas. Resilience and attack. If the hammer = lacks resilience, i.e. it is hard deeper into the hammer, then steaming = won't really address that. It will mask it by softening the outer = layers, but it won't take care of the problem. If the hammer is hard in = the striking area, i.e. if the attack needs to be attenuated, then = steaming or crown needling will be effective. To determine where you = need to voice you have to alternate between hard and soft blows. Harder = blows will tell you more about the deeper part of the hammer and its = resilience, softer blows more about the crown and the attack. You can = have a resilient hammer with sharp attack, a resilient hammer with soft = attack, an unresilient hammer with soft attack or an unresilient hammer = with sharp attack. I personally think that you need to address = resiliency first and that there is usually an optimum level of = resiliency. Typically it is described as one which achieves adequate = power on a hard blow without the tone breaking up. There is little = benefit to an unresilient hammer and a notable loss of power with an = overly resilient or unsupported hammer. Once you achieve the proper = level of resiliency you can then turn your attention to the attack. = Here there is much more room for personal taste. David Love ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Wimblees@AOL.COM=20 To: pianotech@ptg.org=20 Sent: July 15, 2002 8:27 AM Subject: Re: hammer softener? In a message dated 7/15/02 10:18:40 AM Central Daylight Time, = piano@charlesneuman.net writes:=20 Has anybody used a liquid called "hammer softener"? Pianotek sells = it. I=20 assume the responses will be that it's no substitute for proper = voicing=20 techniques, but I'm curious if anybody has found an appropriate use = for=20 the stuff.=20 Charles Neuman=20 There are four ways to soften hammers.=20 1. Use the product you mention. I have never used it, so I can't make = a comment on it.=20 2. Use Downey Fabric Softener. Dilute it about 5 or 6 to one, and it = works great. The only problem is, it colors the hammers blue.=20 3. Use a damp cloth and a hammer iron. Roger Jolly explains this = method. I have used it several times with great success. I am going to = use it on all the practice rooms pianos. The nice things is, it is = instantly reversable, by ironing the hammers without the wet cloth.=20 4. Needle like hell. It can be effective, but it does damage the = hammers. And it is hard on your arm muscles.=20 I am not recommending any one of the four methods. However, I like = number 3. =20 Wim=20 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/3f/fa/be/8a/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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