<< I thought I'd ask if anyone knows what the "Steinway" shape is supposed to be.<< Not a round, "billard ball" shape, but more of a point. It is not unlike the shape of an egg. >>Also, the highest hammers have deep grooves in them and I didn't want to file them too much in order to remove the grooves, but soft pedal usage makes the tone "disappear" (the un-grooved spots are soft). How much filing can be done on those highest hammers? >> You can file them all the way to the wood, but that wouldn't serve any purpose. There is nothing to be lost by filing them down until only the very slightest remnant of the groove is left. Well, maybe a little weight, but tonally, they are near the end of their service life, so remove the "dead" felt that is between the grooves by filing them to an "egg" shaped profile and see if you don't get better sound. Good luck, Ed Foote RPT http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
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