Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum How long should a voicing last?

That's my question: how long--in playing hours--should a voicing last? How many times could you voice the piano before you'd have to consider a new set of hammers? This would seem to be important if you were about to buy an instrument whose overall tone you weren't completely happy with, but thought that voicing would fix whatever problem you were trying to overcome. That's also interesting since you never really know how the piano's going to sound till you get it into your space. I've got a *great* tech and we've spoken about this, but I'm interested in your feedback. Thanks, everyone, for your responses. (PS: this time I did a search on this question before I posted the topic and still think it's a good post LOL!! )

Good question but too many varibles. Hammers are made differently so each voicing technique has a different effect in terms of the amount of change and time it lasts. Plus what has been done to them previously limits what you can do to them now.
One voicing technique that doesn't change much with time is REGULATION! Roger Jolly, the head technical consultant for Samick, will play a note that the hammer flange has too much friction, show you the 7 swings, repin it. show you the 4 swings, play the note and ask if you hear the difference. The whole class does, even in the back.
So if the pinning is bad and the knuckles have a good bit of wear, spend the money and hang a new set of Ronsen hammers with the Wurzen felt on some new shanks. These hammers are getting rave reviews.
It will be the best present you ever bought yourself.
The tonal pallete of a nicely voiced set of hammers striking a lively string/board sound producer is what we're after and we can't produce that unless the piano is performing mechanically at the best it can.

kpiano

Sarah,

Installing new Ronsen hammers with Wurzen felt would undoubtedly be the way to go, if money isn't an issue and if the piano is a quality instrument in otherwise good shape.

Voicing is tricky. The piano has to be in pretty good regulation and tune before you can really even get started. There are many methods, and some are long-lasting, some are short-lived. What kind of piano is it, how old, what kind of wear?

Dave Stahl

Voicing lasts until you aren't happy with it. Hammers last until they no longer can be voiced or regulated properly.

And although you didn't ask, new hammers won't necessarily make the piano sound exactly how you would want it.

These are great answers--food for thought. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity in sharing your expertise. What I need to do is not use this particular piano so much and get another one to teach on!

Fan's piano is a Bösendorfer, so Ronsen's would'nt be an appropriate choice in my opinion.

That's right, Curry--I have a Bösendorfer 200 from the mid-60s. It gets a *lot* of use. Too much use, in fact, and needs to be protected, I think.

There's nothing wrong with wearing out your hammers from use. That's what a piano is for!

I appreciate that BDB--it's just that I want to be the one using it most, and get a little something else for the students. Actually, my tech just did a little voicing today and I've been having a great time on the instrument tonight. That bass--aah! It just stops you sometimes, it's so beautiful. I know how lucky I am!