hammer change - shaping

[antares@euronet.nl]

I could not have said it more clearly Ricardo!
Bravo, Bravo!


On donderdag, mei 8, 2003, at 22:43 Europe/Amsterdam, Richard Brekne 
wrote:

> From: Richard Brekne <Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no>
> Date: don mei 8, 2003  22:43:02 Europe/Amsterdam
> To: oleg-i@wanadoo.fr, Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: hammer change - shaping
> Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
>
> Issac, Ed, and others..
>
> Andre' went into this subject in some detail with me while we were
> visiting during the Easter holidays. I think as I understand his point
> that it is his contention that the voice of the hammer remains 
> basically
> intact even through what is often considered rather severe wear. 
> Instead
> of a complete reshaping job entailing re-mating hammers to strings, a
> complete revamp of the voicing due to more significant changes in 
> hammer
> mass and exterior tension, along with all the fine single string 
> voicing
> and whatever other tone building processes one finds usefull.....,,
> leaving the hammers unshaped allows one to simply touch up the existing
> voicing without all the rest of it. And, I think the contention is, 
> with
> similar results in quality.
>
> Thinking about this it is not sooooo off the wall. If the origional
> shaping and mating was done well, then about the only thing that is
> really changed with wear is the surface area that contacts the string.
> There was an article not to long ago in the Journal about voicing at 
> the
> extremes of the string marks on such hammers.
>
> I dont think we are talking about a flat top that extends 5 mm or
> anything, but certainly more wear then is usual to allow for. After the
> first reshaping then (by Andre's suggestion) and then waiting until 
> that
> same amount of wear and tear again is apparent, roughly the same amount
> of time will have passed as what you describe in a University
> situation.... 3-4 years. And in both cases by then hammers are ready 
> for
> replacement.
>
> Course Andre' will jump in and clarify wherever I have misunderstood
> him, but on the surface of it... it seems to make some sense. Or what ?
>
> RicB


Antares,
The Netherlands

see my website at : www.concertpianoservice.nl