Voicing techniques (piano voicing)

It depends on your level of practice regarding this procedure. It is the most difficult intervention among those performed on the instrument. Personally, I am wary of "softening" products. Instead, I am in favor of impregnating agents. One must proceed gradually. Obviously, one must see the condition of the hammers and decide whether to intervene with shaving and/or a "light voicing" procedure that does not, however, alter what was performed by the Manufacturer. One can intervene, but without touching the lower shoulders of the hammers and treating the apex with caution without sinking the needles too deep. In fact, a consistent striking "wedge" must be preserved, which can, however, have a small pianissimo "cushion" at the top. One can also intervene, moderately, on the upper lateral part, but without crossing the wedge of the apex. Generally, with very grooved hammers, it is advisable to intervene laterally in the striking grooves....but with gradualness and moderation!!!!! The result obtained can be irreversible, especially if it modifies the "hammer structure"

Even though I am not a technician, I believe that at the current state, voicing would have limited effects (the felts are very hard).

On the contrary, I am deliberately trying to obtain a less bright and inharmonic sound.

That is why I was asking if there was a product to soften them.

I conducted a search via Google, but I found nothing.

I would like you to indicate the name of a specific product ("softener" or "impregnating agent") or a website where I can purchase it?

(Also via email, privately; if you do not want to advertise on the forum.)

Thank you.

If you really want to use it, the reported product is fine. But I advise against it. Obviously, one can proceed with a "deep" voicing (roughing) that certainly modifies the timbre, especially on the fortissimo, forte, and mezzoforte. Alternatively, one can intervene towards the piano and pianissimo. Furthermore, I believe an upright piano from the eighties has hammers that are already impregnated and therefore very hard. It is difficult to know which "recipe" the manufacturer used and if it is compatible with other commercially available impregnants. The most commonly used one is Renner's, ether-based and ready to use, or the acetone-based one, which you can make by dissolving shredded transparent plastic. The result depends mainly on how it is applied, and I cannot give directions blindly there. You have to see what you want and what the instrument can offer with that hammer hardness. I believe that very hard hammers (certainly not those hardened over many, many years) can be a good starting point for softer voicing. The type of voicer also modifies the hammer differently. This is an intervention that a good technician can implement with good results, but if inexperienced, they risk ruining the hammer hardness forever. This is all I feel like advising you.

I thank you for the advice; now I have a starting point.

Good morning,

i have disassembled the hammer rail, so I can now begin working on the felts.

I haven't found any specific chemical products (not even online on specialized sites),

so I will use simple acetone to "wash" any products used by the manufacturer

and to eliminate grooves by treating the felts softened by the solvent.

Then I will proceed to punching.

i would also like some advice regarding potential adjustments to the actions.

I am attaching some photos before asking you a few questions.

Fig.1 - Grooves.

Fig.2 - Shapers (paramartelli).

Fig.3 - Escapement screws.

Fig.4 - Adjustments.

1) What is the best way to restore the original shape (see grooves in fig.1) to the striking part of the hammer?

2) In fig.4 there are those I call screws 1 and 2. I believe the first is used to adjust the distance of the hammers from the strings; the second, the position of the shapers (which, as can be seen from fig.2, are misaligned). Is this correct?

Thank you.

I'm canceling what I wrote in point 2.

Looking closer at the mechanics, I think I am completely off track.

I can't open the photos

I would like to ask a question if I am not being indiscreet... Why is it that if one is unable to sing in tune, there is a risk of ruining the hammer action? If it always strikes the strings at maximum, after some time the felt should compact itself again, or not?

Good morning,

the photos are visible on both Firefox and IE; I wouldn't know (try updating the browser, the problem should be resolved).

The "washing" of the felts has already produced some results (softer sound).

I have ordered the 3-needle tuner; when it arrives, the work will be complete.

Of course, I didn't think putting the hammer rail back in place would be so complicated (I am having problems with the escapement on the low notes); perhaps I will be forced to call someone, but if one wants to learn, one must start somewhere...

Also because, at least in my area, I don't see any great technicians.

Experiment, experiment!