BLP Shop Training: Voicing Piano Hammers with Steam for Improved Tone

[@calmunson5022]

Very informative! Did a set of Yamaha hammers today with hard dense crown but had not learned the steam technique you demonstrate here. Used soap and water 'droppered' on shoulders which worked only moderatly then moto-tool needling under the strkie point. The water/soap creeps toward strike point so one must be careful! But checking the fit of hammer to string and 'correcting' with a string hook will bring it back. With let-off a little low on this piano, when hammer fitting was not enough I raised the let-off and tone 'improved' I'll try this next time on a couple of hammers.

[@puzzlefactorysoundstudios]

Thank you for sharing your expertise. Would you ever consider using a small hand-held domestic steam cleaner for this purpose?

[@saveriosalerno9232]

Thanks Brigham!

[@stephenlawson6009]

I love these videos - I learn a lot - thanks for doing these.

[@ElikemTheTuner]

at 6:06 it appears that you are not applying the iron directly over the hammer's striking point, but rather slightly below it, which is why you did not notice any results. Kindly correct me if I'm wrong, though...

[@barrieforte2588]

I use a thin white cotton cloth soaked in 4060 alcohol and water you only have to gently touch the sides of the Hamas ideally you don't want to go on the nose, as this has a huge effect, the way he's done it is little and often which is the best approach. The only negative comment I would say he's using a green cloth and using steam you can run the risk of dye ruining into the hammer.

[@ElikemTheTuner]

@@barrieforte2588 thanks

[@Piano.Musikk]

Another beautiful piece!❤LOVE IT

[@timelwell7002]

I confess I've never heard of steam voing before. Nor have I ever met another piano tuner/technician who has done this here in the UK. My gut feeling is that the 'traditional' method of voicing hammers using a toning tool - I just use one (or sometimes two) needles - is tried and tested, and is very controllable. WIth one needle in my voicing handle, I can feel - and even hear - how the felt is being altered as I go. Wheras this concept of steaming cannot get down to the granular detail that I can achieve using my particular method of voicing hammers with one needle.

[@majotroobs719]

I believe that the steaming is not intended to give you the final result, but instead to get the entire section into the general desired area. AFTERWARDS, the detailed finish will be done with the needle.

[@lorandviranyi1140]

I used to voice with steam instead of needle voicing, and it has side effects, like the action not working properly after multiple voicings. The sound will be great after voicing, but i think it has too many side effects.

[@artmusicliterature9859]

So interesting! Thanks for sharing!!

[@Er-sv5tn]

I have an Estonia 190 almost new that I'm having trouble getting voiced .....I wish I was near you

[@thehousewhisperer6933]

I have the same piano. 2018 Estonia 190 purchased brand new. It was great for a few months. Then got very bright and also the key bushings developed play. The keys got lose and wobble from side to side rubbing on each other. VERY hard to find a good tech. I also have a Mason & Hamlin BB that needs voiced down. It was left (way too brittle and bright) after a tech reshaped the hammers. Again... VERY hard to find a good tech that will take the time and has the skill required. Often it good to learn such skill sets ourselves. I can tune very well with my Verituner. Maybe time to work on voicing skills.

[@thehousewhisperer6933]

I wish I could find someone like Brigham in my area (about 50 miles outside of Vancouver BC Canada).

[@rogershaffer1]

@@thehousewhisperer6933 Unfortunately piano technology is a field of expertise that offers the lowest level of competency to the public. I have been rebuilding Steinway and other pianos for 40 years and have always been seeking competent help. No luck yet

[@rogershaffer1]

@@thehousewhisperer6933 I would be happy to offer advice to do it yourself. It's not rocket science, just common sense and a little skill

[@davidbutterworth5258]

Very informative; however I would be wary of doing this to my Grotrian Steinweg Model 192 (1989). I haven't had my technician do anything to the piano's hammers apart from a little needling on a few ultra bright sounding ones. It has become brighter all round over time with moderate use. I'm happy with the tone, so might be disappointed if any drastic alterations were made. Just my opinion, but on an expensive piano I'd be nervous with too much experimenting as shown in your video.

[@unequally-tempered]

When done by someone who's done a lot of voicing this way the result is reliable and good

[@Phoebem-c2m]

Very true, I had my piano voiced by a technician with steam. The result is not satisfying, it becomes uneven and inconsistent, some notes went too soft that I can barely hear them. Wish I could know this earlier so I wouldn’t do voicing at all. My piano is a 1999 Yamaha and it didn’t sound that bad.

[@unequally-tempered]

@@Phoebem-c2m kzbin.info/www/bejne/aovMcqqCqKqtgNE is an instrument on which I used a technique akin to steam

[@ALEX-gl2yz]

What's the difference between this technique and the one using fabric softener and alcohol ? Thank you

[@barrieforte2588]

Alcohol is used with water and steam. Fabric softer. Personally, I'm not a great fan of it. However, you need to use a light coloured fabric softener; and soak the shoulders, not the nose, your biggest problem is; because you are soaking the hammers, you have to wait until the hammers are dry, which is typically 24:48 hours before you see the results, and for me, it's too uncontrollable.

[@NMpianotechnician]

Fabric softener ruins hammers.

[@ChernobieffPiano]

I've had too many pianists at the upper levels who know their piano very well, hire me because they wanted to avoid a tuner who voiced with steam. These are people who play hours a day. Also many techs in other forums have had the same issue. If it works for you so be it, But chemical voicing is what i use and its very predictable and consistent.

[@otalcre]

What formula do you use? Fabric softener, alcohol? What proportion?

[@unequally-tempered]

Yes - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aovMcqqCqKqtgNE is an instrument on which I used a "chemical" technique introduced to me by Susan Kline

[@Jack-fs2im]

at last someone understands its mostly the middle octaves used ,thank you

[@ChernobieffPiano]

Unfortunately, steam voicing is the least stable method of voicing.

[@DavidBoycePiano]

I dunno Chris, I've had good success with it and the results have lasted.....

[@xs10tl1]

I expected to see a special piano hammer steamer device...

[@joru3101]

Was soll damit erreicht werden ?