Hello, we hope someone can help me. My grand piano has this issue: some keys produce a sound that resembles the metallic effect of striking a metal oil tin (or a sheet of metal). Inspecting the section related to these keys with the defective timbre, I noticed that the corresponding hammers stop a bit early and do not strike well on only one of the three strings. Do you think that by tightening the escapement button slightly I could resolve it?
Hammer centering is fundamental. It is also fundamental that each hammer strikes the two or three strings simultaneously. Unfortunately, by neglecting these checks over time, the hammers undergo an off-center "grooving," and when one wants to return everything to the correct centering, it is advisable for the hammers to be shaved first. Shaving hammers requires experience. Attention: there must be sufficient felt (they can be shaved at most once or twice) and it is FUNDAMENTAL that after shaving they maintain a slightly rounded shape in the bass and more pointed in the treble. Thus, it is also important to preserve the original "strike point," which, after shaving, due to the effect of greater hammer travel, must be recalculated. A good, expert Technician will evaluate what needs to be done. In any case, follow the operations carefully. After shaving, the hammer rail requires new voicing. After these operations, the sound should result in being clear and compact, consistent with the quality of the instrument's design.
Thank you for the answer Mr. Paolo, but these hammers that produce a bad sound do not strike the string unison with confidence but stop a little early. Regards, Sergio.
