Reshaping VS new hammers

[Tom J Armstrong]

The hammers you have may or may not need replacing.  There are too many
unknowns to give an answer here.  

I suggest that you let your technician demonstrate what can be done with
a couple of hammers in the middle and mid treble section.  Then you can
listen and judge for yourself.  Maybe he is on the right track.  I
question anyone who is using graphite in piano actions, though.  $2K is
excessive in my opinion, too.  If he isn't someone you really have
confidence in, certainly don't have him do any major replacements.  It
may very well be time for new hammers, shanks, flanges, and other things.
 It is very sad to see some of the "work" on potentially fine instruments
nowadays!  A Steinway grand is worth spending major dollars on.  Make
sure you have a GOOD technician do it right.

If you need a top notch referral, ask this list for references and give
your geographic area.  Not every RPT is great, and not every non-RPT is
bad.  You might be amazed at the difference a good technician can make
out of a so-so piano.

Tom Armstrong, RPT


On Wed, 1 Aug 2001 09:05:28 -0400 Bob Luderer
<Bluderer@sloanandcompany.com> writes:
> I am considering replacing or reshaping the hammers in my 1926 
> Steinway
> model M.  Hammers are Steinway, were last replaced in 1966.  Voicing 
> no
> longer is able to resolve the tonal variation, they are just too 
> worn for
> that.  However my tech (not an RPT) thinks that reshaping will get a 
> few
> more years out of them and bring the tone back to what it should be. 
>  I
> would be interested in your thoughts on this......I wonder how this 
> will
> affect the "feel" of the instrument, there was talk of lubing the 
> action
> with graphite as well........ 
> 
> Bob Luderer
> Acctg & IS Manager
> 
> 
>