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hammer mating

  • 1.  hammer mating

    Posted 03-04-2021 13:22
    I have a 6'2" grand that has a particularly offensive note (D#4).  I checked the string level and found the right most string to be very low.  I have tried to pull it up, but it doesn't want to move.  My question is, do I muscle it up or should I just shape the hammer to match.

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    William Scaglione
    North Tonawanda NY
    716-471-1565
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  • 2.  RE: hammer mating

    Posted 03-04-2021 14:43
    Hi William,
    Is the agraffe at fault?
    Peter

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    Petrus Janssen
    Peachtree City GA
    678-416-8055
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  • 3.  RE: hammer mating

    Posted 03-04-2021 15:29
    It does appear so.  If you check the strings, there are at the same level coming out of the agraffe.

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    William Scaglione
    North Tonawanda NY
    716-471-1565
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  • 4.  RE: hammer mating

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-04-2021 15:54
    Some agraffes are not properly machined (holes out of level). Do you have the tools from Charles Faulk (http://www.faulkpiano.com/specialty_tools/) for string leveling?

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    Patrick Draine
    Billerica MA
    978-663-9690
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  • 5.  RE: hammer mating

    Posted 03-04-2021 16:56
    I do not.  Do you think it would be possible to use an agraffe reamer to make the hole larger which would have the effect of raising that particular string? I have never used one.  It probably would be easier than replacing the agraffe.

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    William Scaglione
    North Tonawanda NY
    716-471-1565
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  • 6.  RE: hammer mating

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-04-2021 17:08
    A bit more information about this 6' 2" grand would be helpful for us remote diagnosticians. Brand? Age? Overall condition of the piano (including hammers)? It wouldn't hurt to make sure you have a replacement agraffe on hand if you stress the old one out too much. New wire may be more amenable to proper leveling too.

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    Patrick Draine
    Billerica MA
    978-663-9690
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  • 7.  RE: hammer mating

    Posted 03-04-2021 17:20
    Has the shank twisted and the hammer is slightly diagonal?  Traveling?

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 8.  RE: hammer mating

    Posted 03-04-2021 19:48
    This is a Hallet & Davis.  The piano is only about 5 years old and obviously in excellent condition.  I know this is an inexpensive piano, but actually I'm impressed. It was in bad need of regulation. Hammer checking was so low that some hammers were barely checking at all.  But I was able to regulate it very successfully and made a huge improvement in feel and repetition. Surprisingly enough I was able to set the checking at about 9mm with plenty of room on the up stroke. The hammers are also in excellent condition. Only a few adjustments were needed in their travel. The hammer shank is not twisted.  The right most string is low and mating confirms that with that string muted with the hammer pulled up and gently touching the strings.

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    William Scaglione
    North Tonawanda NY
    716-471-1565
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  • 9.  RE: hammer mating

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-04-2021 21:43
    Yank that string up, I doubt this newish agraffe will break. I noticed a unison on a new Yamaha GC2 (Indonesian made I believe) that sounded bad, and I found  there was quite a wave in one noisy string. High near the striking point, low on the other side of the damper. I improved the level marginally, but I probably should change the string.

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    Patrick Draine
    Billerica MA
    978-663-9690
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  • 10.  RE: hammer mating

    Posted 03-05-2021 07:26
    Patrick, I'm pretty sure that it is ONLY   the  Yamaha grand model GB1K  of  grand models sold in the US that is manufactured in Indonesia along with all  Yamaha upright models shorter than 48" (however the quirky 48" b3 IS made in Indonesia).   Martin.
    www.snowpianos.com

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    Martin Snow
    South Burlington VT
    617-543-1030
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  • 11.  RE: hammer mating

    Posted 03-05-2021 12:32
    Thanks for the advice Patrick.  I will give it a try.  I was just afraid that yanking it up to hard would make matters worse.

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    William Scaglione
    North Tonawanda NY
    716-471-1565
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  • 12.  RE: hammer mating

    Posted 03-14-2021 15:14
    Followup:  I finally had a chance to "yank that string up" as Patrick suggested.  It worked out great. I got it level with the other 2 and it sounds much better.  Thanks again for the advice.

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    William Scaglione
    North Tonawanda NY
    716-471-1565
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