[CAUT] Ronsen-Wurzen hammers

[Alan McCoy]

Definitely not just sugarcoating. Where to needle depends in part on where
the juice was applied. When I juice these hammers I don't do it Steinway
style (from the top), I apply it on the shoulders and watch it wick in
toward the tip of the molding but trying to avoid the strike point. I want
to get the juice into the core but not at the strike point. Not always
achievable. For those hammers where the juice got too close to the strike
point and are pingy, I'll go right into the strike point, ala Steinway. But
one other thing about these hammers. The felt is very dense and they do not
needle like Steinway hammers. They are a bit grabby and harder to needle.
Not harder to needle as in the rocks that we used to attempt to needle 15
years ago when a single needle tool was the only possibility for some
hammers and/or those hammers that could not be penetrated even with alcohol
and water (as in water off a duck's back). Still the needling technique is
not fundamentally different than what you'd use on a Steinway.

Alan

> From: Mitch Staples <staples.13 at osu.edu>
> Reply-To: <staples.13 at osu.edu>, "College and University Technicians
> <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:06:11 -0400
> To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Ronsen-Wurzen hammers
> 
> Eric,
> 
> When you needle these hammers do you deep needle at the strike point, on the
> shoulders, or just sugarcoat them, (or some combination)?  I'm wondering if
> you treat all lacquered hammers like Steinway hammers.
> 
> Mitch Staples
> Ohio State University
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org]On Behalf Of
> Wolfley, Eric (wolfleel)
> Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 1:36 PM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Ronsen-Wurzen hammers
> 
> 
> I've put a number of sets of Ronsen Wurtzen hammers on and I like them
> for our practice rooms but I've had an experience similar to Alan's.
> Without lacquer they seem to be missing something at all volumes, even
> for a practice room. At the minimum I'll soak them from the mid-tenor on
> up and often soak the whole set. You have to needle them back down after
> doing this of course but they then have a good strong core for a wider
> dynamic range. They sound nice after doing this plus I've found that if
> hammers are voiced too soft the kids just pound harder to get tone out
> of the piano. From my experience I can't imagine using these hammers
> "straight out of the box". That being said, I still like them a lot
> though I wouldn't put them on a performance piano.
> 
> Eric
> 
> Eric Wolfley, RPT
> Director of Piano Services
> College-Conservatory of Music
> University of Cincinnati
>