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Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

  • 1.  Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-19-2018 19:19
    Hello all,
    I recently installed a set of Abel Special Pressing hammers from Pianotek on a Steinway B.  The owner feels that the overall sound is too bright for her taste.  Does anyone have any suggestions about voicing down this type of hammer?  I have installed only one other set of these, on a Steinway M, and it sounded lovely, full and round with just enough brightness I thought; with just a little voicing on random hammers to even it out.  The B is in a very live room in a home, and will likely never be moved in the owner's lifetime.  Suggestions will be appreciated!
    Thanks all!

    Laura Wright, RPT

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    Laura Wright, RPT
    Ivory Keys Piano Service
    Durango CO
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  • 2.  RE: Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

    Posted 09-19-2018 19:41
    I would call Darrell Fandrich and family in Stanwood wa.. They are masters with the Abel hammers.
    -chris





  • 3.  RE: Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-19-2018 19:58
    Call Bob Marinelli at Pianotek.  He can help you.    Clark

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    Clark A. Sprague, RPT
    Bowling Green, OH
    www.clarkspianoservice.com
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  • 4.  RE: Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-20-2018 07:40
    Hi Laura,

    Battery voicing really seems to open up these hammers and remove a bit of the "ping."  On my last set (Yamaha C7) I did this on the bench before hanging, and they sounded nice and warm.  Peace.

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    Kent Burnside, RPT
    Franklin TN
    615.430.0653
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  • 5.  RE: Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-21-2018 13:58
    What is battery voicing?
    Joe Wiencek




  • 6.  RE: Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-21-2018 14:24
    If I understand correctly, many Europeans refer to needling the bottom half of the hammer as "battery voicing."

    I think it also refers to pushing the needle in parallel to the molding, from the bottom up?

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    Benjamin Sanchez
    Professional Piano Services
    (805)315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    BenPianoPro@comcast.net
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  • 7.  RE: Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-22-2018 07:53
    Battery voicing is deep needling in the low shoulders, the areas around 9:00 and 3:00 o'clock.  This gives the hammer better potential for absorbing the shock at the top when the strike point hits the string; if the low shoulders have too much tension the tone will be harsh.  Kawai's high-speed videos of a hammer striking the string really demonstrate the importance having a good foundation near the bottom-for a split second the top flattens and the upper shoulders bulge out, leaving the low shoulders to absorb the force.  (Don Mannino sometimes shows these videos during his convention presentations, and they provide a lot of insight into hammer function.)

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    Kent Burnside, RPT
    Franklin TN
    615.430.0653
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  • 8.  RE: Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-22-2018 07:54

    Andre Ooorebek also discusses this in his book.  Yes deep needling around the 3 and 9 O'Clock areas.






  • 9.  RE: Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-05-2018 11:24
    Just a follow-up question:  When it comes to deep needling, how deep is "deep"? 
    Thanks to all who have responded!


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    Laura Wright, RPT
    Ivory Keys Piano Service
    Durango CO
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  • 10.  RE: Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-05-2018 12:39
    At least 1/2", but try for 3/4".  It's easier if you use a single needle.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 11.  RE: Voicing Abel Special Pressing hammers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-06-2018 03:16
    Battery voicing as discussed by Andre Oorbeek (sp?) is needling in the area below 3:00/9:00 (around the staple) for the purpose of regaining power (thus the term "battery") that was lost due to excessive needling or from a hammer that lacks power in the first place. It doesn't always work. You don't use that tecnique to mitigate attack. 

    The main purpose of needling in the upper part of the hammer is to get the hammer to absorb more energy so that less is delivered to the string and balance the impedance characteristics of the soundboard with the energy delivered by the hammer. 

    To do that effectively picture the hammer as a too tightly coiled spring between the strike point and the molding. Your mission, should you decide to accept it,  is to get the spring to open up. You will need to needle in the area from 9/3 on either side toward the crown to do that. The amount, depth and location will depend on where the hammer as s spring is too tight and how effective lower or higher shoulder needling is at getting the spring like quality of the hammer to open up. Some hammers will respond well some not so well. The less responsive the hammer is the more toward the crown you will need to needle and the more needling will be required. There are directional techniques (where the needles enter and point) for different parts of the hammer. 

    Usually Abel hammers will need to be worked closer to the strike point than others because they are not as responsive as some other hammers (another discussion) when it comes to opening up that tightly coiled spring. Generally speaking the needle direction is a radial pattern (think spokes of a wheel) with caution being exercised as you approach the strike point. Depth of penetration needs not be more than 8-10 mms anywhere (3/4" is way excessive unless you like breaking off needles) and often less in the upper area of the hammer or, of course, on smaller hammers such as you find in the treble

    If you're in California on the 27th of November (4th Tuesday) come to the Santa Clara chapter meeting where I'm giving s 90 minute presentation on the subject (I just gave the same discussion to the SF chapter) or contact me privately if you need clarification. It's not rocket science or mysterious when you conceptualize it properly. It's just experience,feel and working methodically with defined purpose.

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    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
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