No needling here: to steam, or not to steam?

[Richard Brekne]

I have no doubt that if you want to mush up those bricks you can. But I 
wouldnt expect a bucket full of wonderful tone colouring dynamics with 
hammers as you describe. That said.... you may have an old lady on your 
hands that had a set of rather soft and worn hammers that she liked and 
it might not be so difficult to get back to that.  Some techs just apply 
voicing techniques without really taking into consideration what the 
customer really wants or  likes and this kind of situation pops up as a 
result.

I doubt you are going to find steam helpfull in this instance, but you 
can always try a few shots.  If you cant satisfactorilly loosen the felt 
with needles in the usual way, you could also try very shallow and 
aggressive needling all over the very near crown area... and I mean like 
right up there.  If that doesnt work then you are left either mushing 
them in whatever way you can, or suggesting a change.

Go carefully forward with what you can promise. You have the opportunity 
to score big points, or end up just another goat with these <<old lady 
types>>

Cheers
RicB

Piannaman@aol.com wrote:

> Voicers, steamers, needlers, what have you,
>
> I have recently done a small amount of work installing short lid props 
> for a woman who has two pianos, a Steinway M, and a Mason A.  When I 
> was there, she complained about the tone of the M and H, saying that 
> the last tuner applied something to the hammers, and it hasn't been 
> her sweet old piano since.
>
> I tried the instrument, and sure enough, it sounded like bricks 
> hitting tin cans.  I told her that if she was dissatisfied with it, 
> she should call the person who juiced it and have her voice it down. 
>  She did, and lots of needling didn't do the trick.
>
> When I was there last, I'd mentioned that I heard steam voicing 
> yielded good results, but I wasn't sure how it would work on 
> over-lacquered hammers.  And I've never tried the technique myself, 
> though many on this list have sung its praises.  
>
> She is at wit's end, and wants her old M and H tone back.  I said I'd 
> come and check the piano out, and look into the possibility of 
> steaming the hammers.  I'm not certain how old the hammers are, but if 
> something doesn't help them out soon, replacement will be in the 
> cards(probably not a bad thing, except financially...:-().
>
> Questions:  How well does this technique work on over-lacquered 
> hammers?  Can someone describe the best way to go about it?  I've 
> heard damp-cloth/dry iron works well.
>
> Maybe I should try side-needling....:-)
>
> Thanks for any input.  I'll be scoping the piano out on Thursday.
>
> Dave Stahl
>