In the context of piano servicing, voicing refers to the process a piano technician uses to adjust the tone quality of the instrument—making it brighter, mellower, warmer, or more even across the keyboard.
Here’s a breakdown:
What Voicing Means in Servicing
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Not the same as tuning:
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Tuning adjusts the pitch of the strings.
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Voicing adjusts the tone color (the character of the sound).
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A technician works mainly on the hammers, since they strike the strings and shape the sound.
How Technicians Voice a Piano
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Needling the hammers: inserting fine needles into the felt to soften overly bright or harsh tones.
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Hardening the hammers: applying special solutions to make the tone brighter if it’s too dull.
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Shaping the hammers: filing or sanding to restore proper contact with the strings.
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Balancing registers: making sure the bass, middle, and treble sections sound consistent.
Why Voicing Is Done
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Over time, hammers get compacted and grooves form where they strike the strings, leading to a harsh or uneven sound.
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Voicing restores the original tonal balance or customizes the piano’s sound to the player’s preference (e.g., concert-bright vs. living-room mellow).
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It’s especially important for performance instruments, where clarity and color matter as much as pitch.
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