Hearing problems/hard hammers

Barbara Richmond piano57@insightbb.com
Wed, 7 Sep 2005 18:35:01 -0500


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Greetings all,

Nope, I don't have hearing problems (at least, I hope not), but I have a =
customer who has developed a neurological problem that affects his =
hearing.   His piano, a Seiler 8' grand, model 240.  This is a piano I =
started servicing 13 or 14 years ago, then I moved away. Now I'm back =
and have been asked to service it again. =20

While I was gone the piano had some work done on it and the tech used =
plastic and acetone on the hammers.  Whoa!  Anyway, I was pretty shocked =
at the sound and did what I could to get rid of the plastic sizzle the =
first time I saw it.  The owner was pleased with what I did, but I still =
wasn't totally happy with the voicing.  I figured I'd try to do more =
with each visit (we're on a quarterly schedule). =20

So, yesterday, I did some minor filing and needling, working to remove =
what was left of the sizzle and improve the bloom and sustain.  I =
thought it was coming along, but was reluctant to bring the attack down =
too much.  As it turns out, I could have done more, because when I =
e-mailed the customer this morning, asking him if the tone had improved, =
he said it was still too harsh. =20

Ah.  Hmmm.

I see my choices as really going after those extremely hard hammers with =
motorized needling and/or softener, or replace them with something =
softer like the Ronsen Wurzens.  The customer was very interested when I =
mentioned going to a softer hammer.  I guess I'm looking for the hammer =
that would be the easiest to control and hold the voicing longer.  I =
keep thinking these hard hammers will always need a lot of voicing.

Actually, I've never really liked the sound of this instrument.  The =
sound is thin and nasal.  I'm afraid my attempts to open up the hammers =
with traditional needling haven't been very successful.   Maybe all I =
need to do is bring out the big guns to make a difference.  Or, (unless =
I destroy the hammers) will it always sound like a piano with hard =
hammers? =20

This case is somewhat more complicated than others because of the =
hearing disorder.

The more I write this, the more I think I should just replace the =
hammers and quit fooling around with those bits of granite.=20

Comments?

Oh, yeah, there's another question.  I've never heard a piano with an =
Edwards String Cover on it.  How does it affect tone and or volume?


Thanks much,

Barbara Richmond
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