BLP Shop Training: Needle Voicing Piano Hammers for Improved Tone

[@jaredwirth3990]

Such a great tutorial and explained from the sales perspective, it shows how we are always selling the Tone. Tone quality, Resonance at the end of the day is what we are paying for in any instrument.

[@jbuzz8853]

At about 20:10 the question “How can you tell if a string is unmated?” A: The unison will sound nasal or whiny, and sometimes it’s harder to tune. (It sounds like it wants to beat but never goes through a beat cycle) Once your ear is trained, you can hear an unmated unison even if you’re in the 10th row in a concert.

[@jenl2072]

Bingo. Nailed it.

[@ClassicRoyal]

Eek! 11:51 you’re going to destroy the hammer! Aggressive is not a good way to voice. Watching the voicing at the PTG convention here in DC, 2023.

[@ScaramouchedaVinci]

Thank you very much for your good work. Voicing is a great art because you not only need the technology for it, but also an excellent ear (many piano builders don't have that). Unfortunately, there is hardly any training for voicing. Also interesting, if I were to put these engravings on my piano, I would have a problem because immediately they were much too soft. It always depends on the felt.

[@kristopherdetar4346]

My experience with harsh hammers is to do the “sugar coating” stabs front to back first then deep stabs for fine tuning. Either way when the hammers are that compacted a heavy dose of stabbing is the only cure for harsh sounding hammers. Great video presentation !

[@timelwell7002]

It's worth mentioning that here in Europe the 'Industry Standard' for replacing sets of hammers are the Abel Natural Felt Hammers which are a delight to voice. Sadly, a lot of pianos from the East (China, etc) come to shops in the West with an excessively bright tone, and the hammers are far harder to voice, having a consistency which seems like granite..! They can be a nightmare.

[@MacCentrisSimpleSencilla]

I should be the proud owner of a used Wurlitzer in the next couple of weeks and this video has taught me so much I never even imagined in my life. Thanks!!

[@HowardGoldman]

Thanks for presenting this voicing knowledge.

[@CharlesLangSamuel]

Gotta go deeper on the shoulders. I use thinner, longer needles to get down there. You break more needles but the most difficult, and important, section is just about the 4th-6th octaves.

[@jenl2072]

I do as well & agree.

[@BrunoNeureiter]

What are they called like? How can I look for one? What should I look for?

[@DerrickBoundsMusic]

​@@BrunoNeureiterI've used sewing needles . Cut them at the length you prefer

[@BrunoNeureiter]

@@DerrickBoundsMusic Wow, that was a long time ago. A lot of stuff happened.

[@DerrickBoundsMusic]

@@BrunoNeureiter info for someone else in future

[@saveriosalerno9232]

Thanks Brigham 👍

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

Great stuff! Thank you!

[@liztinsley1993]

This was very helpful. I would love to be able to become a piano technician one day.

[@JK-vr8ko]

Thanks for posting; very informative

[@nick_philips]

Excellent video! Thank you. How long does the voicing typically last, considering average home use?

[@eddydelrio1303]

Very informative! Thank you.

[@alangill1411]

Someone has poorly refaced them hammers and have taken the meat of the face of them. I was taught not to go too far with the face of the hammers when refacing them and leaving a slight string mark on the hammers. It's a guide really as well to make sure you reface them evenly and also you can use them as a guide to line the hammers up when reinstalling them after refacing and any other work needed to be done to them. They might be worth replacing really.

[@paulknight6508]

When voicing Japanese piano you need way more stitches starting lower on hammer. Also a good idea to pre voice before you reshape. Same way that steinway hamburg teaches.

[@NMpianotechnician]

Yamaha pianos are strung with a higher tension string scale. They are bright.

[@beethovensg]

Oh boy.

[@timelwell7002]

If you (or another piano technician) overdoes the voicing so that it loses it's 'oomph' then another possibility is to dope the sides of the felt with a type of varnish known as 'Japan.' Once that has been absorbed into the felt and has dried, it will make the felt FAR harder and then you might have to do some more voicing again...

[@rickbarber6758]

Hammer Head softener would work wonders on those rock hard hammers.

[@xs10tl1]

I have a Yamaha U3, and it's bright tone is why I'm here. I purchased a needle device, which works fine. But specific to Yamahas....the upper octave and a half (no dampeners) tends to be ringy even after softening the tone ... any advice is appreciated.

[@Saygarn]

my ''technician'' dripped alcohol + fabric softener on the hammers and ruined the tone. what can i do?

[@Inigobalboa]

Call a different technician and hope for the best.

[@NMpianotechnician]

Yea those are done.

[@LouPici]

Why are the hammers done? Just saw a video of a different tech advising this. What does it do to ruin the hammer?

[@michelprimeau4531]

I'm among those people that will reject a second hand piano or a even a piano store if pianos are out of tune or not voice. I'm willing to accept a certain degree of "out-of-tuneness" but when I try a piano, I'm looking for a feel and a sound. An unregulated piano action, a piano out-of-tune or tune voice can hardly meet those criterias. A store can't come with the season excuse but tell me that I need to keep my house at 68 F at 40% humidity otherwise I'm not a good piano owner and try to sell me a humidifier. I will not reject a piano brand necessarily but if I can't find one suitable piano of that brand on the floor, you are not a serious dealer. You don't respect the instrument. What kind of after sale service will you offer? I can't count the number of time when I tried a piano and the salesman tell me, don't worry, we will tune it at your home. Oh thank you...

[@Robert-xv7io]

I would say you are right, but just one look at his showroom its packed with grand pianos. Sometimes its just a issue of time, someone has to do the tuning before the shop opens in the morning. Its not really like an engine that is the same every time.

[@michelprimeau4531]

@@Robert-xv7io I've been unlucky enough to find the "only" 4 pianos on a room that were out of tune. But I agree that it's hard when you have your floor full or you have a good rotation of your inventory.

[@Robert-xv7io]

Probably they are all out of tune because of the volume of instruments. Thats why he has all these students because he is scouting for talents. What i would suggest to you is if you find a few examples that are in your taste. Check if they could have them in true expo condition for an appointed time. Im shure any serious dealer would respond positivily to a request like that.

[@wiseview1444]

You are absolutely right. Anything else is insane. Unfortunately customers typically learn when it's too late!

[@BertFlanders]

Difficult to hear any difference given the fact it is not a 'Professional' recording. But very interesting video nevertheless. Thanks a lot!

[@Jack-fs2im]

mine twangs