Steinway Touchweight Problem.. Mike J.

[Brian Trout]

Hi Mike,

You bring up an interesting point.  If one files hammers to remove excess
mass, where does one file felt away?

I'll speak for myself, since I can't speak for others...

When I do a hammer filing to reduce the sheer mass of a HUGE hammer, it is
my intention to leave the strike point as intact as possible.  Most times, I
usually have a set of hammers that are one section too big for my taste.
The top hammer in the bass usually seems to me to be about the right size
for the bottom.  (I'm generalizing a bit, here, I realize.)  But as for
reducing the length of the hammer, from the center of the shank to the
striking point of the hammer,  I wouldn't want to take more than 1/16"  off
the striking point, and to me even that is excessive.  None is much better,
a very little bit doesn't worry me too much.  (Actually, I've been looking
into some of the different hammers now available...Renner's, Ables...
there's a lot to pick from these days.)

Not wanting to split hairs here, for I think I know where you were coming
from.  But it made me wonder just _where_ the felt comes off for other
people.

It's an important question.

Thanks for your input.

Have a great day.

Brian Trout
Quarryville, Pa.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Jorgensen <Michael.Jorgensen@cmich.edu>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Friday, June 04, 1999 8:06 AM
Subject: Re: Steinway Touchweight Problem


>
>
>Hi Stan,
>      I have a word of caution to add to Davids post.  Avoid the miserable
>mistake I have made in the past- which is to file Steinway hammers using a
>normal shape and greatly reducing the amount of felt over the molding
>sufficient to create some tone out of the puffballs.  The end result is a
>light bright tone with very short hammers, possibly overcentering, where
>the shanks are way high above the rest cushions creating a host of
>unlovable regulation/geometry nightmares.  The exaggerated pear shape that
>Steinway uses is essential to keep the hammer tall enough and then one
>must juice the devil out of them if there's no tone.  Since the hammers
>and shanks are already new, it's certainly worth a try.  I personally
>wonder if Steinway should have taller moldings within the hammers and
>alittle longer on backcheck end which could always be shortened if need
>be.  IHMO, a heavy action is not bad if the tone is there, and sometimes
>is perceived as rich, deep, powerful, and easy to control instead of
>tiring.
>just a thought.
>-Mike Jorgensen
>
>David ilvedson wrote:
>
>> Stan,
>>
>>  I bet you need
>> to do some serious hammer filing on those Steinway puffball
>> hammers.  What you will get is a nice hammer that you will
>> likely have to juice some but the downweight will come down.
>> Also reduction of the molding will make a big difference.  I
>> would file first now that I've read through your post again.
>>
>
>