Dennis, I've had nothing but good experience with these hammers and I've found that the quality control (i.e. shape and uniformity) is much better now than it was even a couple of years ago. After experimenting with many other hammers over the years, I won't put any other hammers on a NY Steinway. In the past I would find myself soaking Steinway hammers 2-3 times in a 3:1 lacquer thinner to lacquer solution (2:1 for large grands) before I felt there was a good foundation to the tone. With the pre-lacquered hammers I'll still find myself soaking the set at least once. Obviously this will make the surface quite bright. It is easy and quick to get this harshness to go away with shallow needling at the strikepoint which leaves the firmness underneath producing a big, fat tone. This is the method that the Steinway concert techs use and it is quite effective. I use this method whether the piano is going into a practice room, living room or onstage though the smaller, lighter hammers tend to need less lacquer. There must be a differentiation made between the term "power" and "brightness". Some people (notably pianists) seem to use those words interchangeably. The current NY hammers sound fairly "bright" right out of the box but it is mainly surface brightness. This brightness can be manipulated by surface needling but if the hammer doesn't have a good foundation the tone may then sound dead. If the hammer seems to "die" when you shallow-needle the strikepoint, it probably needs more lacquer underneath. The hammers are lacquered at the factory by being dipped together as a set in what I was told is 3:1 lacquer for 30 seconds. This ensures a certain amount of uniformity. It is hard to imagine that you have gotten a set that is overlacquered unless somebody lost track and dipped your set twice. Of course, stranger things have happened. BTW, I always listen to the hammers in the piano before doing any lacquering. Also BTW, Steinway will be offering a voicing class as part of the CAUT program next June at the PTG convention in Anaheim. All, as always, are welcome, of course. Eric Eric Wolfley, RPT Head Piano Technician Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of johnsond Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:31 AM To: College and University Technicians Subject: [CAUT] The "new" S&S Hammers. Anyone care to share your experiences with the new S&S Hammers from this summer? They come with a note to us Technicians...... ________ "Due to a process improvement in the manufacturing...... you may notice a slightly harder hammer. With this in mind we would suggest that you do not juice these hammers before testing in the piano. Juicing these hammers before installation and pre-testing may result in a brighter than anticipated tone. " ________ OK- Actually the hammers looked good and shaped up just fine. I did not put one drop of lacquer or any other hardener on these hammers except for 4 notes in the high treble. The piano has been back in service now for a couple months. They are bright indeed!! Just this morning the faculty pianist actually told me that now he "hates" this piano. I am trying keep him patient and working with them, but there is only so much needling I can do. I can't take the piano out of service to wash them with thinner until maybe Christmas break. The worst part is that it starts to make me look bad when the player is beginning to wish he had the old worn hammers back...... @#$! I'm sorry, but we are not paid enough to take that kind of responsibility for materials. So.... Anyone else have a better experience? Maybe it's just this set- thanks, Dennis Johnson St. Olaf College
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