Very well written David! Thanks!! At 09:46 AM 9/21/2007, you wrote: >Perhaps I didn't word that very carefully. Of course a change in hammer >will change the tone. My point was that you won't be able to completely >mask the underlying tonal structure of the piano by simply changing the >hammer. In other words, you won't convert a Yamaha to a Steinway by simply >putting a Steinway hammer on it. If you could, we could all have that >Steinway sound for a lot less money. The piano will still maintain many >characteristics of the Yamaha sound though through a slightly different >filter. > >With respect to soundboard response, there are some good examples of >soundboards that have survived well with good sustain and the like. >Unfortunately, there are also many that have not. > >To comment further on the difference in tone between a lacquered and >non-lacquered hammer, I think one of the main differences is the layered >structure of the hammer necessitated by the presence of lacquer. With the >lacquered hammer you are forced to create a thin layer of needled felt over >the surface of the hammer in order to mitigate the tendency for the hammers >to ping excessively when the lacquer is present on the surface. The >crystalline substance laying just below the surface is thus engaged only >when the hammer is compressed enough to get through the fluffy top layer. >This does create a sense of changing colors as the hammer is played at >different levels. You can get a sense, especially in the treble, a sort of >crystalline sound beneath a soft veneer. It's definitely a high maintenance >type of hammer since that top layer must be maintained carefully. >Unfortunately, the constant dressing of that top layer also shortens the >effect life of the felt at that level and it must be periodically removed >and the process started all over again until you get down to where the >lacquer is simply too dense to really deal with effectively. In addition, >over time, the lacquer continues to harden and the flexibility of the hammer >on a deeper level is compromised and the tone at a forte level tends to get >too harsh. The non lacquered hammer need not be put through the same >procedure because there is no lacquer noise factor to avoid. The tops of >these hammers can be polished with very fine paper in order to get that >shine in the tone that lacquer provides without fear of an unwanted zing >resulting from an unaddressed lacquer crystal. Those hammers tend to have a >more stable voicing and, treated well, a longer effective life. > >At least that's my take on it. > >David Love >davidlovepianos at comcast.net >www.davidlovepianos.com > >-----Original Message----- >From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of >Richard Brekne >Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 12:47 AM >To: caut at ptg.org >Subject: [CAUT] S&S Hammers and lacquer / an old S #287725 > >On this general subject I'd like to report I just got finished with an >old S.... actually one of the nicest sounding S instruments I have ever >heard. Absolutely delightful treble... and really I suppose I could say >that from around F2 upwards... The lowest bass is a bit tubby... or >however one chooses to describe that low bass sound Steinway gets. > >The new hammers were evened so as to conform to a Stanwood top medium >curve, and were German Renners Wurzen I felt. They needled nicely and >ended up with about 50-60 three needle 6-7 mm deep first needling jabs >in the bass.. down to around 25 in the highest treble. > >Sustain time was quite astounding for this old Steinway... Tunelab >registered between 2.1 and 3.4 seconds on C8 !! (6 samples) F7 3.1 to >4.9 ! C7 had a high of 5.5, F6 8.1, and C6 a whopping 11 seconds. >Given the many discussions about the Steinway soundboard design... I >really find myself lacking for a way of finding compatibility between >this result... and the idea that these boards will by definition loose >their ability to function well. I might add that the sound was >anything but thin and weak... it was full, round and very powerful. I'd >put it up against many very new pianos of larger size... > >A recording of this instrument will be forth coming. > >In anycase... back to the lacquer / non-lacquer bit.... I still have the >old hammers and will see if there is anyone at the UiB who can >assertain whether lacquer had been used at any time. Given its a >Hamburg instrument... that may be doubtfull... and even if there is, the >lacquer could have come from anywhere. I also know of a early 30's B >laying around town.... all original and laying hidden in a garage for >about 60 years... > >Cheers >RicB Greg Newell Greg's Piano Forté www.gregspianoforte.com 216-226-3791 (office) 216-470-8634 (mobile) 2003,04,05 & 06 winners of Angie's List Super Service Award
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC