Our October technical on “Voicing the Vertical” was presented by our RVP Richard Bittner with the most able and lovely assistance of Jan Bittner

Richard started with the question, “What is voicing?” He stated that it should be likened to a choir. A choir has a bass, alto, tenor and soprano sections. He asked around the room what qualities a good choir should consist. Comments included projection, and blending as well as distinction between sections. When we think of voicing a piano we automatically think of pulling out needles or iron and start on the hammers and go to town. Richard, however, encouraged us to think that the hammers should be saved for last. True voicing starts with investigating things that would contribute to a faulty sound. Look for things that would contribute to lack or loss of power and control. These things might be thought of as repair items or preparatory items usually not related to voicing hammers. In fact a loose hammer-butt flange would cause considerable decrease in power and therefore effect the “voice” of the instrument. Think of a stereo. If we turn up the volume the pitch doesn’t change but it might distort. In a piano we want control and clarity, not distortions or distractions from rattles and the like. True voicing starts with listening to the customer. They might complain their piano is out of tune when in fact it is in tune. Ask questions like; what kind of music are they playing? It might be classical or jazz. Every style might demand a preference in tone. Here are suggestions to investigate before needling, reshaping, and gang sanding the hammers. 

Inspect hammers
Make sure there are no grooves in hammers. Make sure the hammers are traveling correctly and contacting the string squarely. If not take shank heating pliers or a barbecue lighter and bend them straight. Make sure hammers they are contacting all three strings etc. Very gently push the hammer to the string. Pluck the string with your finger and see if all strings are touching the hammer squarely Inspect dampers; are they dampening the string. Are they making positive contact with the string? We should nor hear strings “zing” or harmonics because of poor contact. Press the string with your fingers. Does the damper follow the string? If not the damper needs to be regulated 

Soundboard
Is there sufficient downbearing? Check for cracks. Check for little toys that have fallen behind the piano and are therefore vibrating. Hairline cracks in board and especially under the ribs need to be attended to. Sympathetic vibrations need to be eliminated. Theses include ceiling fans which should be turned off, filaments in light bulbs, window rattles, air conditioning hums. The  position of the piano in the room is 50% of the acoustics perceived. Seat all strings at hitch pins and possibly agraffes, and at bridge pins. To eliminate any movement of the string and any buzzing. Caution is needed not to seat bridge pins too hard to prevent the pins descending too far into the bridge. Tighten all action screws. Any loose flanges could cause decrease in power, contact etc. This results in poor sound. Make sure string are even and level. Catchers should be very secure. Center pins which are too tight can affect the power of the instrument. This in turn affects the voice of the instrument. Action centers should be the same so that the performer can have the control to deliver the same “blow.” Check the key easing, and the jacks should be free and responsive. The bottom of the piano behind the kick board should be free of debris- items like, guitars, or cats who have been trapped, as reported by one technician. Tighten plate bolts.  Piano needs to be at the correct tension. (in tune) General regulation of the piano making sure power and control are at its optimum.

Hammers
Richard uses Abel or Imadegawa. Using your thumbnail on top, depress the hammer. The top should be soft. Richard continued to elaborate on hammer properties such as staples or no staples. Is under felt beneficial? How does the wooden molding, whether walnut, maple or hornbeam, affect the sound. In short anything in the hammer potentially can determine the tone which it will produce. The harder the object that strikes the string, the higher the overtones you will hear. Richard taught that the hammer should cause the note to swell upwards and blossom in sound. You want to hear partials except for the higher ones, like the 7th partial. He encouraged listening for sounds like that of a choral “O” sound. Eliminate sounds that are constricting like those of an “E” sound. To soften hammers he uses a number of items. Using needle nose pliers, pinch the shoulders of the hammers. This will result in a softer tone.   He starts with one long needle inserting it into the shoulders will soften the hammer. He then takes another voicing tool with three shorter needles inserted at 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock. He uses needle sizes 6 and 7. You can find these in any fabric store. Richard also takes a needle and connects it to his Dremel tool with a short collar. And “drill” into the hammer. He does this with new hammers. You are unable to do this with hammers still in the piano because of lack of room. Beware of  “burning” the felt. With a metal brush Richard routinely “scratches” or brushes the strike point of the hammers after tuning. It does not remove material but does make a big difference in tone. He comments that when hammers are very hard, alcohol will soften the hammers so that one can use needles. Acetone will be effective if it is applied to the hammers. If it comes in contact with key tops, they will melt. Actually he said that needling should be done mainly to even out things and not used necessarily to change the voice. Additional comments were included like; hammers should only be reshaped twice in the hammer’s life. At that time we need to replace the hammer. 

---Review from Mike Varrone
 

Meeting Minutes and Chapter News & Notes

Meeting Minutes (excerpts)

Thanks to Paul Graves for hosting the meeting and for providing the nice refreshments afterwards. 

Chapter to offer Technical Exam Offered in January or February of 2006 TBA. RPT's interested in helping administering the exam contact Kim Hoessley.

Kim is doing well after her surgery.

 Doug and Rick attended associates seminar in Kansas City. They reported that it was worth it. It was also reasonable in price with a wealth of knowledge. 

National dues reminder - due 01/01/06 

The Chapter welcomed former Chapter member Ron May who was visiting from Florida 
 
 

...  Bob Grubb chats with Richard Bittner after the meeting		Ron May makes a surprise visit to the Chapter meeting, visiting from Florida. Nice to see Ron again.

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Chapter News & Notes

The Nov. 15, 2005 Chapter Meeting will be held at The Piano Warehouse 6155- K  Huntley Rd. Columbus, OH  at 7:30 PM. Dave McDonald has offered to share some of his “secret” tips for cleaning pianos and we will have a roundtable discussion on your favorite cleaning tools and tips.  So bring your favorite tools or cleaning kit and share them with the Chapter. 

Regional VP Richard Bittner informed us that Columbus is in contention for the National Convention and Technical Institute in 2009.  Barbara Cassaday and other site selection members visited Columbus this year and were very impressed with the hotel accommodations and convention center. 

Before the October meeting we had the opportunity to look over this Chickering grand from 1827. Straight strung in a rosewood case with a matching chair.  The case is a true work of art. Stop in at Graves Pianos, if you get the chance, to see this instrument.  Notice  the matching  swivel, caned top chair with this piano? How rare might that be?   To see additional color photos of this piano visit our web page under Tech Photos
 

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November 15th   Chapter Meeting 7:30 
The Piano Warehouse  6155-K Huntley Rd.  Just North of St. Rte. 161 
Piano cleaning “Secrets” -  bring your ideas to share 

The North Carolina Regional Conference will be held November 10-13, 2005 at the Sheraton Capital Center in Raleigh.  For additional information contact Tereasa Owens 606 Kentberry Dr. Charlotte, NC or e-mail  to  ncrcptg @ msn .com