Sorry to come late to this thread.
I've had very good luck up in octave 7, when it sounds like metallic screeching yet there is so little felt, and the felt has often been turned almost into a solid block by juicing, by applying about two drops of vodka into the string grooves. After letting it settle awhile (as I do the rest of the tuning) I might add a very small second dose on a few offenders which stand out, but certainly no more than that.
I've never found the need to repeat this procedure. The tone after it is still very bright and still can carry, but the screaming edge is moderated.
I like the idea that I'm leaving nothing in the piano except the change in texture of the felt right at the strike line, and that I've not needed to remove or tear any felt, up where there is so little to begin with.
If the high treble is so worn that the string grooves are too long, I'd do a small amount of diagonal filing just to get the grooves shorter, without removing any felt from the top.
In octave 6, on a very good piano like a performance piano, I'd not use any vodka, but would use very minimal hammer filing and some angel shot voicing, enough to get the voicing very even through the section.
Everything one does to voice a good grand reduces the lifespan of the hammers, so I try to keep it to minor interventions done as an ongoing part of maintenance -- just enough to keep the voicing in the sweet spot. In the long run, of course, hammers on a performance grand have to do what they have to do.
Of course, blind (well, deaf) advice is worth what you've paid for it ...................nada.
I'm glad to hear that the angel shot voicing did the trick for this customer.
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Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2018 15:10
From: David Trasoff
Subject: Voicing after filing
Thanks for the suggestions. I was able to use angel shot voicing to get better control of the sound in the problem area on the worn hammers.
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David Trasoff
Professional Piano Service
Los Angeles, CA
323-255-7783
david@professionalpianoservice.com
Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2018 02:31
From: Carl Lieberman
Subject: Voicing after filing
David,
I would use "Angel Shot" voicing, after shaping the hammers. It will be effective but not disruptive to the felt. Start with a single needle inserted at the end of the center string groove on the speaking length side. Insert it so that it travels parallel to the outside of the hammer (away from the molding). If more is needed do the other 2 string grooves.
Carl
Sent from my iPad
CarlPianoTech.com
Original Message------
David
Sounds like in order to get the brightness down, the previous tech did a lot of voicing by needling the top of the hammers. This will cause the hammers to wear out much faster.
For longer lasting results, do deep needling on the shoulder and at 3 & 9 o'clock, and also from the sides. And you're probably right that sooner or later the hammers will need to be replaced.
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Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
Mililani, HI 96789
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