Pianotech

Greetings all,

Yesterday I did a short regulation touch-up on a 2012 Yamaha GB-1 grand. While going over the tone, I found one note, F#6 (the first undamped note) to be noticeably lacking in sustain compared to its neighbors. I tried:

-needling the shoulders

-checking string contact at the bridge.

Nothing really seemed to work to match the sustain of the surrounding notes. 

One thing I didn't check was the pitch of the rear duplex. Could that make a difference? Hammer flange friction was checked.

Please note: I have never voiced this piano, and, according to the owner, neither have any other technicians.

Anything else to try? I realize that these are entry-level grands--could it just be hammer quality deviation? I have some miscellaneous sample hammers in the shop, including some Renner Premium Blues, so I suppose I could stick on something of about the same weight to see if it has better sustain.

thanks!

Greetings all,

Yesterday I did a short regulation touch-up on a 2012 Yamaha GB-1 grand. While going over the tone, I found one note, F#6 (the first undamped note) to be noticeably lacking in sustain compared to its neighbors. I tried:

-needling the shoulders

-checking string contact at the bridge.

Nothing really seemed to work to match the sustain of the surrounding notes. 

One thing I didn't check was the pitch of the rear duplex. Could that make a difference? Hammer flange friction was checked.

Please note: I have never voiced this piano, and, according to the owner, neither have any other technicians.

Anything else to try? I realize that these are entry-level grands--could it just be hammer quality deviation? I have some miscellaneous sample hammers in the shop, including some Renner Premium Blues, so I suppose I could stick on something of about the same weight to see if it has better sustain.

thanks!

Greetings all,

Yesterday I did a short regulation touch-up on a 2012 Yamaha GB-1 grand. While going over the tone, I found one note, F#6 (the first undamped note) to be noticeably lacking in sustain compared to its neighbors. I tried:

-needling the shoulders

-checking string contact at the bridge.

Nothing really seemed to work to match the sustain of the surrounding notes. 

One thing I didn't check was the pitch of the rear duplex. Could that make a difference? Hammer flange friction was checked.

Please note: I have never voiced this piano, and, according to the owner, neither have any other technicians.

Anything else to try? I realize that these are entry-level grands--could it just be hammer quality deviation? I have some miscellaneous sample hammers in the shop, including some Renner Premium Blues, so I suppose I could stick on something of about the same weight to see if it has better sustain.

thanks!

Scott,

As the owner of numerous Yamaha grands (not GB1's), I've noticed your observations in that area when the net down bearing is little to none. I suspect, in my case, the soundboard has lost its crown resulting in that loss of down bearing. If this is true, all the hammer voicing will be in vain. Try changing out an adjacent hammer that is producing good tone. If no improvement is realized, then you can reasonability assume the problem in not in the hammer.

Roger 

Greetings all,

Yesterday I did a short regulation touch-up on a 2012 Yamaha GB-1 grand. While going over the tone, I found one note, F#6 (the first undamped note) to be noticeably lacking in sustain compared to its neighbors. I tried:

-needling the shoulders

-checking string contact at the bridge.

Nothing really seemed to work to match the sustain of the surrounding notes. 

One thing I didn't check was the pitch of the rear duplex. Could that make a difference? Hammer flange friction was checked.

Please note: I have never voiced this piano, and, according to the owner, neither have any other technicians.

Anything else to try? I realize that these are entry-level grands--could it just be hammer quality deviation? I have some miscellaneous sample hammers in the shop, including some Renner Premium Blues, so I suppose I could stick on something of about the same weight to see if it has better sustain.

thanks!

I concur with Roger. I've seen this issue several times before, and all the symptoms are what you describe. Most likely it's the lack of down bearing.

One thing you might try is needling the top of the hammer in question along both edges, about 2-4mm deep, with pokes about 3mm apart. I've had good success increasing sustain with this technique on pianos that have sufficient down bearing. If you don't see an improvement after needling in this manner, most likely the hammer is not your problem. 

------------------------------
Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
Piano Technician / Artisan
(256) 947-9999
www.professional-piano-services.com
www.FromZeroToSixFiguresBook.com

Original Message:
Sent: 05-17-2025 15:29
From: Roger Gable
Subject: Yamaha GB1 Voicing issue

Scott,

As the owner of numerous Yamaha grands (not GB1's), I've noticed your observations in that area when the net down bearing is little to none. I suspect, in my case, the soundboard has lost its crown resulting in that loss of down bearing. If this is true, all the hammer voicing will be in vain. Try changing out an adjacent hammer that is producing good tone. If no improvement is realized, then you can reasonability assume the problem in not in the hammer.

Roger 

------------------------------
Roger Gable RPT
Gable Piano
Everett WA
(425) 252-5000

Original Message:
Sent: 05-17-2025 12:30
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Yamaha GB1 Voicing issue

Greetings all,

Yesterday I did a short regulation touch-up on a 2012 Yamaha GB-1 grand. While going over the tone, I found one note, F#6 (the first undamped note) to be noticeably lacking in sustain compared to its neighbors. I tried:

-needling the shoulders

-checking string contact at the bridge.

Nothing really seemed to work to match the sustain of the surrounding notes. 

One thing I didn't check was the pitch of the rear duplex. Could that make a difference? Hammer flange friction was checked.

Please note: I have never voiced this piano, and, according to the owner, neither have any other technicians.

Anything else to try? I realize that these are entry-level grands--could it just be hammer quality deviation? I have some miscellaneous sample hammers in the shop, including some Renner Premium Blues, so I suppose I could stick on something of about the same weight to see if it has better sustain.

thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

I concur with Roger. I've seen this issue several times before, and all the symptoms are what you describe. Most likely it's the lack of down bearing.

One thing you might try is needling the top of the hammer in question along both edges, about 2-4mm deep, with pokes about 3mm apart. I've had good success increasing sustain with this technique on pianos that have sufficient down bearing. If you don't see an improvement after needling in this manner, most likely the hammer is not your problem. 

Scott,

As the owner of numerous Yamaha grands (not GB1's), I've noticed your observations in that area when the net down bearing is little to none. I suspect, in my case, the soundboard has lost its crown resulting in that loss of down bearing. If this is true, all the hammer voicing will be in vain. Try changing out an adjacent hammer that is producing good tone. If no improvement is realized, then you can reasonability assume the problem in not in the hammer.

Roger 

Greetings all,

Yesterday I did a short regulation touch-up on a 2012 Yamaha GB-1 grand. While going over the tone, I found one note, F#6 (the first undamped note) to be noticeably lacking in sustain compared to its neighbors. I tried:

-needling the shoulders

-checking string contact at the bridge.

Nothing really seemed to work to match the sustain of the surrounding notes. 

One thing I didn't check was the pitch of the rear duplex. Could that make a difference? Hammer flange friction was checked.

Please note: I have never voiced this piano, and, according to the owner, neither have any other technicians.

Anything else to try? I realize that these are entry-level grands--could it just be hammer quality deviation? I have some miscellaneous sample hammers in the shop, including some Renner Premium Blues, so I suppose I could stick on something of about the same weight to see if it has better sustain.

thanks!

I concur with Roger. I've seen this issue several times before, and all the symptoms are what you describe. Most likely it's the lack of down bearing.

One thing you might try is needling the top of the hammer in question along both edges, about 2-4mm deep, with pokes about 3mm apart. I've had good success increasing sustain with this technique on pianos that have sufficient down bearing. If you don't see an improvement after needling in this manner, most likely the hammer is not your problem. 

Scott,

As the owner of numerous Yamaha grands (not GB1's), I've noticed your observations in that area when the net down bearing is little to none. I suspect, in my case, the soundboard has lost its crown resulting in that loss of down bearing. If this is true, all the hammer voicing will be in vain. Try changing out an adjacent hammer that is producing good tone. If no improvement is realized, then you can reasonability assume the problem in not in the hammer.

Roger 

Greetings all,

Yesterday I did a short regulation touch-up on a 2012 Yamaha GB-1 grand. While going over the tone, I found one note, F#6 (the first undamped note) to be noticeably lacking in sustain compared to its neighbors. I tried:

-needling the shoulders

-checking string contact at the bridge.

Nothing really seemed to work to match the sustain of the surrounding notes. 

One thing I didn't check was the pitch of the rear duplex. Could that make a difference? Hammer flange friction was checked.

Please note: I have never voiced this piano, and, according to the owner, neither have any other technicians.

Anything else to try? I realize that these are entry-level grands--could it just be hammer quality deviation? I have some miscellaneous sample hammers in the shop, including some Renner Premium Blues, so I suppose I could stick on something of about the same weight to see if it has better sustain.

thanks!

The quickest way to determine if the problem is with the hammer is to swap that hammer&shank with its neighbor (and making sure that any details about regulation on these two hammers is equalized temporarily). If it's a hammer problem, it will travel with the hammer.

I concur with Roger. I've seen this issue several times before, and all the symptoms are what you describe. Most likely it's the lack of down bearing.

One thing you might try is needling the top of the hammer in question along both edges, about 2-4mm deep, with pokes about 3mm apart. I've had good success increasing sustain with this technique on pianos that have sufficient down bearing. If you don't see an improvement after needling in this manner, most likely the hammer is not your problem. 

Scott,

As the owner of numerous Yamaha grands (not GB1's), I've noticed your observations in that area when the net down bearing is little to none. I suspect, in my case, the soundboard has lost its crown resulting in that loss of down bearing. If this is true, all the hammer voicing will be in vain. Try changing out an adjacent hammer that is producing good tone. If no improvement is realized, then you can reasonability assume the problem in not in the hammer.

Roger 

Greetings all,

Yesterday I did a short regulation touch-up on a 2012 Yamaha GB-1 grand. While going over the tone, I found one note, F#6 (the first undamped note) to be noticeably lacking in sustain compared to its neighbors. I tried:

-needling the shoulders

-checking string contact at the bridge.

Nothing really seemed to work to match the sustain of the surrounding notes. 

One thing I didn't check was the pitch of the rear duplex. Could that make a difference? Hammer flange friction was checked.

Please note: I have never voiced this piano, and, according to the owner, neither have any other technicians.

Anything else to try? I realize that these are entry-level grands--could it just be hammer quality deviation? I have some miscellaneous sample hammers in the shop, including some Renner Premium Blues, so I suppose I could stick on something of about the same weight to see if it has better sustain.

thanks!

Greetings all,

Yesterday I did a short regulation touch-up on a 2012 Yamaha GB-1 grand. While going over the tone, I found one note, F#6 (the first undamped note) to be noticeably lacking in sustain compared to its neighbors. I tried:

-needling the shoulders

-checking string contact at the bridge.

Nothing really seemed to work to match the sustain of the surrounding notes. 

One thing I didn't check was the pitch of the rear duplex. Could that make a difference? Hammer flange friction was checked.

Please note: I have never voiced this piano, and, according to the owner, neither have any other technicians.

Anything else to try? I realize that these are entry-level grands--could it just be hammer quality deviation? I have some miscellaneous sample hammers in the shop, including some Renner Premium Blues, so I suppose I could stick on something of about the same weight to see if it has better sustain.

thanks!