Pianotech

I worked on a small grand Sohmer Model 50 today. Movers did not install the pitman properly and the damper lift tray was jammed in the up position. After finally freeing the pin holding the trapwork lever in place I was able to reposition it. It was obviously a replacement made of a long fluted dowel with a nail in one end to secure it to the lift tray. I removed the action to inspect the tray, sostenuto rail etc but in order to get it out I had to remove two hold down screws going through the front key frame rail. These seemed to serve no real purpose although they had a slot to allow the una chorda to move the key frame. I found them screwed down tight and preventing the shift to work. Does anyone know the purpose of these screws ? All of the treble triple unison strings past through round holes in the plate strut. The piano was 63 cent flat so after pitch adjustments I fine tuned most of the piano until I ran out of time and had to leave. When I played it the sound was very bright and resonant and I am not sure why. The hammers did not seem to be worn down with heavy string cuts or flat strike points. I am wondering if it just the piano design or if there is something I can do to make it sound more pleasing to the ear Owner is the second owner and purchased it in the 1990s I am returning this week and would like to do something simple but effective. Maybe some light chopstick needling ? fabric softener ?

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
------------------------------

Roger Jolly steam voicing is my go-to on a piano like the one you describe. Quick, effective, controllable.

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 21:23
From: James Kelly
Subject: 1980 Sohmer Grand Model 50

I worked on a small grand Sohmer Model 50 today. Movers did not install the pitman properly and the damper lift tray was jammed in the up position. After finally freeing the pin holding the trapwork lever in place I was able to reposition it. It was obviously a replacement made of a long fluted dowel with a nail in one end to secure it to the lift tray. I removed the action to inspect the tray, sostenuto rail etc but in order to get it out I had to remove two hold down screws going through the front key frame rail. These seemed to serve no real purpose although they had a slot to allow the una chorda to move the key frame. I found them screwed down tight and preventing the shift to work. Does anyone know the purpose of these screws ? All of the treble triple unison strings past through round holes in the plate strut. The piano was 63 cent flat so after pitch adjustments I fine tuned most of the piano until I ran out of time and had to leave. When I played it the sound was very bright and resonant and I am not sure why. The hammers did not seem to be worn down with heavy string cuts or flat strike points. I am wondering if it just the piano design or if there is something I can do to make it sound more pleasing to the ear Owner is the second owner and purchased it in the 1990s I am returning this week and would like to do something simple but effective. Maybe some light chopstick needling ? fabric softener ?

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
------------------------------

Steam voicing gave me the absolute best voicing ever. Problem was, that it only lasted 15 minutes. do you have long term success steaming, Terry?

------------------------------
Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2020 05:24
From: Terrence Farrell
Subject: 1980 Sohmer Grand Model 50

Roger Jolly steam voicing is my go-to on a piano like the one you describe. Quick, effective, controllable.

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 21:23
From: James Kelly
Subject: 1980 Sohmer Grand Model 50

I worked on a small grand Sohmer Model 50 today. Movers did not install the pitman properly and the damper lift tray was jammed in the up position. After finally freeing the pin holding the trapwork lever in place I was able to reposition it. It was obviously a replacement made of a long fluted dowel with a nail in one end to secure it to the lift tray. I removed the action to inspect the tray, sostenuto rail etc but in order to get it out I had to remove two hold down screws going through the front key frame rail. These seemed to serve no real purpose although they had a slot to allow the una chorda to move the key frame. I found them screwed down tight and preventing the shift to work. Does anyone know the purpose of these screws ? All of the treble triple unison strings past through round holes in the plate strut. The piano was 63 cent flat so after pitch adjustments I fine tuned most of the piano until I ran out of time and had to leave. When I played it the sound was very bright and resonant and I am not sure why. The hammers did not seem to be worn down with heavy string cuts or flat strike points. I am wondering if it just the piano design or if there is something I can do to make it sound more pleasing to the ear Owner is the second owner and purchased it in the 1990s I am returning this week and would like to do something simple but effective. Maybe some light chopstick needling ? fabric softener ?

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
------------------------------

I've used the method dozens of times (at least) with very good results. I do have to admit that most of the time I do it, the customer is happy, and I don't see the piano for a year at least. On the few that I remember that I steam voiced that piano, it seems to last a good long while.

It sounds like you are referring to one specific time you used steam voicing with the short-term results. Maybe it was just that particular type of hammer?

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2020 08:33
From: Jim Ialeggio
Subject: 1980 Sohmer Grand Model 50

Steam voicing gave me the absolute best voicing ever. Problem was, that it only lasted 15 minutes. do you have long term success steaming, Terry?

------------------------------
Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2020 05:24
From: Terrence Farrell
Subject: 1980 Sohmer Grand Model 50

Roger Jolly steam voicing is my go-to on a piano like the one you describe. Quick, effective, controllable.

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 21:23
From: James Kelly
Subject: 1980 Sohmer Grand Model 50

I worked on a small grand Sohmer Model 50 today. Movers did not install the pitman properly and the damper lift tray was jammed in the up position. After finally freeing the pin holding the trapwork lever in place I was able to reposition it. It was obviously a replacement made of a long fluted dowel with a nail in one end to secure it to the lift tray. I removed the action to inspect the tray, sostenuto rail etc but in order to get it out I had to remove two hold down screws going through the front key frame rail. These seemed to serve no real purpose although they had a slot to allow the una chorda to move the key frame. I found them screwed down tight and preventing the shift to work. Does anyone know the purpose of these screws ? All of the treble triple unison strings past through round holes in the plate strut. The piano was 63 cent flat so after pitch adjustments I fine tuned most of the piano until I ran out of time and had to leave. When I played it the sound was very bright and resonant and I am not sure why. The hammers did not seem to be worn down with heavy string cuts or flat strike points. I am wondering if it just the piano design or if there is something I can do to make it sound more pleasing to the ear Owner is the second owner and purchased it in the 1990s I am returning this week and would like to do something simple but effective. Maybe some light chopstick needling ? fabric softener ?

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
------------------------------

I thought the steam voicing was so you could get a needle into a really hard hammer. Felt that gets wet and dries, I thought it shrinks to a certain extent and that would seem to make the hammer even harder. I'm keeping an eye out for a set of hammers to try some Kline's V-Force voicing solution on. 
The hard part is understanding the common sense needed to know when and how much to use and I know I will have to review the multitudes of posts before I try it.

------------------------------
Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
209-770-4312
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2020 17:49
From: Terrence Farrell
Subject: 1980 Sohmer Grand Model 50

I've used the method dozens of times (at least) with very good results. I do have to admit that most of the time I do it, the customer is happy, and I don't see the piano for a year at least. On the few that I remember that I steam voiced that piano, it seems to last a good long while.

It sounds like you are referring to one specific time you used steam voicing with the short-term results. Maybe it was just that particular type of hammer?

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2020 08:33
From: Jim Ialeggio
Subject: 1980 Sohmer Grand Model 50

Steam voicing gave me the absolute best voicing ever. Problem was, that it only lasted 15 minutes. do you have long term success steaming, Terry?

------------------------------
Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2020 05:24
From: Terrence Farrell
Subject: 1980 Sohmer Grand Model 50

Roger Jolly steam voicing is my go-to on a piano like the one you describe. Quick, effective, controllable.

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 21:23
From: James Kelly
Subject: 1980 Sohmer Grand Model 50

I worked on a small grand Sohmer Model 50 today. Movers did not install the pitman properly and the damper lift tray was jammed in the up position. After finally freeing the pin holding the trapwork lever in place I was able to reposition it. It was obviously a replacement made of a long fluted dowel with a nail in one end to secure it to the lift tray. I removed the action to inspect the tray, sostenuto rail etc but in order to get it out I had to remove two hold down screws going through the front key frame rail. These seemed to serve no real purpose although they had a slot to allow the una chorda to move the key frame. I found them screwed down tight and preventing the shift to work. Does anyone know the purpose of these screws ? All of the treble triple unison strings past through round holes in the plate strut. The piano was 63 cent flat so after pitch adjustments I fine tuned most of the piano until I ran out of time and had to leave. When I played it the sound was very bright and resonant and I am not sure why. The hammers did not seem to be worn down with heavy string cuts or flat strike points. I am wondering if it just the piano design or if there is something I can do to make it sound more pleasing to the ear Owner is the second owner and purchased it in the 1990s I am returning this week and would like to do something simple but effective. Maybe some light chopstick needling ? fabric softener ?

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
------------------------------