C88 Hammer Position

[Ron Nossaman]

>Hi Ron. Bill Spurlock recommends adding 1/16" shank length for each of the
>last five hammers in the low tenor if one wishes to improve damper
>clearance. So the last tenor hammer would be only raised 5/16". I see
>another post that indicates Mr. Spurlock recommends adding 1/8" per hammer -
>I got my info from the instruction sheet he mailed me with my new Spurlock
>hammer hanging jig.
>
>Terry Farrell

When I see neat little universal number progressions like this, I assume
it's an attempt to provide an easy answer to an averaged set of
circumstances. Since I seem to so seldom find myself looking for answers to
average problems, I tend to question universal answers that presume
something that may not be the case. Why not just do it as the clearances in
the piano dictate? Since you have to adjust every other process you do in a
piano to accommodate that particular instrument, why not this one? Install
your low tenor damper (maybe taking off the low left corner to clear the
bass and keep the hammer as low as possible), trim the shank length so the
hammer adequately clears it, listen to see if it is going to work for you,
and eyeball blend the shank lengths down to the rest of the strike line
from there on up. It will likely take you less than half the time of
worrying over measurements, and probably look better too. 

Ron N