Pianotech

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

Mr. Trasoff,

On Steinway (NY) hammers of that era the preferred technique is single needle, single string, contact point voicing.  It's advisable to start with the una corda position as this will change the normal position sound somewhat. If there aren't string marks on the hammers it's best to find a way to mark the hammers so you know which string you are needling.  The hammers are only over lacquered if a single needle can't be inserted to 6mm or so without too much effort. The Steinway technical reference has a good description of single needle voicing and marking the hammers. Needling the shoulders on these hammers is an exercise in futility

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

Mr. Trasoff,

On Steinway (NY) hammers of that era the preferred technique is single needle, single string, contact point voicing.  It's advisable to start with the una corda position as this will change the normal position sound somewhat. If there aren't string marks on the hammers it's best to find a way to mark the hammers so you know which string you are needling.  The hammers are only over lacquered if a single needle can't be inserted to 6mm or so without too much effort. The Steinway technical reference has a good description of single needle voicing and marking the hammers. Needling the shoulders on these hammers is an exercise in futility

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

Mr. Trasoff,

On Steinway (NY) hammers of that era the preferred technique is single needle, single string, contact point voicing.  It's advisable to start with the una corda position as this will change the normal position sound somewhat. If there aren't string marks on the hammers it's best to find a way to mark the hammers so you know which string you are needling.  The hammers are only over lacquered if a single needle can't be inserted to 6mm or so without too much effort. The Steinway technical reference has a good description of single needle voicing and marking the hammers. Needling the shoulders on these hammers is an exercise in futility

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

Mr. Trasoff,

On Steinway (NY) hammers of that era the preferred technique is single needle, single string, contact point voicing.  It's advisable to start with the una corda position as this will change the normal position sound somewhat. If there aren't string marks on the hammers it's best to find a way to mark the hammers so you know which string you are needling.  The hammers are only over lacquered if a single needle can't be inserted to 6mm or so without too much effort. The Steinway technical reference has a good description of single needle voicing and marking the hammers. Needling the shoulders on these hammers is an exercise in futility

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

Mr. Sturm,

While Ron Coners was indeed a master of single needle voicing as well as the best pure aural tuner I have ever known, he didn't invent single needle voicing. That distinction belongs to Alfred Brendel. He taught it to Ron who taught it to the rest of us in the C&A department and from there it spread to the factory. 

Mr. Trasoff,

On Steinway (NY) hammers of that era the preferred technique is single needle, single string, contact point voicing.  It's advisable to start with the una corda position as this will change the normal position sound somewhat. If there aren't string marks on the hammers it's best to find a way to mark the hammers so you know which string you are needling.  The hammers are only over lacquered if a single needle can't be inserted to 6mm or so without too much effort. The Steinway technical reference has a good description of single needle voicing and marking the hammers. Needling the shoulders on these hammers is an exercise in futility

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

First determine whether a single needle can be inserted more than 1 mm.  If not, apply the over lacquering techniques as discussed.  The shoulders need to be

resilient no matter what. Lacquering the shoulders will kill sustain and lead to poor tone.

------------------------------
Parker Leigh RPT
Winchester VA
(540) 722-3865

Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2026 15:08
From: David Trasoff
Subject: Voicing Steinway Lacquered Hammers

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

------------------------------
David Trasoff
Whatcom Piano Service
(360) 389-2158
david@whatcompianoservice.com
------------------------------

There are three levels/stages of the application of chemical stiffeners. First, the dose is light and small enough that individual fibers themselves are coated, slowing down the felt's elastic reaction and damping the lowest partial tones. The second is when the dose is strong enough that when individual fibers are close enough or even touching, they are glued together, further eliminating the elastic reaction. The third, and most damaging, is when the air space between fibers is filled in. The hammer's elastic reaction is no longer possible,and all that sets up on the string is collision noise, followed by ugly high partials.

The late, great piano technician, Frank Hansen, once remarked, "you only have one shot to get the dose right."

------------------------------
William Ballard RPT
WBPS
Saxtons River VT
802-869-3161

"Our lives contain a thousand springs
and dies if one be gone
Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
should keep in tune so long."
...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774

Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2026 20:00
From: Parker Leigh
Subject: Voicing Steinway Lacquered Hammers

First determine whether a single needle can be inserted more than 1 mm.  If not, apply the over lacquering techniques as discussed.  The shoulders need to be

resilient no matter what. Lacquering the shoulders will kill sustain and lead to poor tone.

------------------------------
Parker Leigh RPT
Winchester VA
(540) 722-3865

Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2026 15:08
From: David Trasoff
Subject: Voicing Steinway Lacquered Hammers

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

------------------------------
David Trasoff
Whatcom Piano Service
(360) 389-2158
david@whatcompianoservice.com
------------------------------

And...

Old lacquer is not the same as new lacquer. Over time key chemical components that add some flexibility evaporate, and the lacquer gets harder and non-pliable. 30 year old SS hammers are not the same animals as when they were new. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

There are three levels/stages of the application of chemical stiffeners. First, the dose is light and small enough that individual fibers themselves are coated, slowing down the felt's elastic reaction and damping the lowest partial tones. The second is when the dose is strong enough that when individual fibers are close enough or even touching, they are glued together, further eliminating the elastic reaction. The third, and most damaging, is when the air space between fibers is filled in. The hammer's elastic reaction is no longer possible,and all that sets up on the string is collision noise, followed by ugly high partials.

The late, great piano technician, Frank Hansen, once remarked, "you only have one shot to get the dose right."

------------------------------
William Ballard RPT
WBPS
Saxtons River VT
802-869-3161

"Our lives contain a thousand springs
and dies if one be gone
Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
should keep in tune so long."
...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774

Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2026 20:00
From: Parker Leigh
Subject: Voicing Steinway Lacquered Hammers

First determine whether a single needle can be inserted more than 1 mm.  If not, apply the over lacquering techniques as discussed.  The shoulders need to be

resilient no matter what. Lacquering the shoulders will kill sustain and lead to poor tone.

------------------------------
Parker Leigh RPT
Winchester VA
(540) 722-3865

Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2026 15:08
From: David Trasoff
Subject: Voicing Steinway Lacquered Hammers

The client's piano is an early 90s Steinway B with the hammers soaked through with lacquer, presumably from the factory. What voicing methods are likely to prove effective on these hammers, especially to control the areas that are far too loud in the bass? I have tried some voice needling, and there is no feel for structure in the hammers, no apparent layers. Are there needle techniques that will work better? Or treatment of areas with water/alcohol to swell the felt? Or? Thanks for your advice!

------------------------------
David Trasoff
Whatcom Piano Service
(360) 389-2158
david@whatcompianoservice.com
------------------------------