---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment [The following post from Horace was caught in the filters. Not sure why. Kent] Begin forwarded message: From: Horace Greeley <hgreeley@stanford.edu> Date: August 31, 2004 10:20:40 PM CDT To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> Subject: Re: Big hammers Hi, At 07:10 PM 8/31/2004, you wrote: I guess I'm showing my ignorance but what are you talking about? I'm not sure, Avery.=A0 =46rom the few that we can see, these actually=20= look like pretty workable hammers, to me....I've certainly seen much,=20 much worse in day-to-day use on concert instruments in "name" venues. Barb - I would be more concerned about overall action geometry that=20 the size of the hammers at this point.=A0 Those knuckles look a bit = close=20 to the flange pin.=A0 Also, looking at the backchecks, this is a pre-'87=20= instrument (for _me_, this is a GOOD THING!...largely because of the=20 significantly larger range of regulation possible...long subject and I=20= am not looking to start a discussion)...being of that vintage, you are=20= also going to want to check not only action spread, but also deck=20 height from the keybed to the CP of each of the whippen and hammer=20 flanges.=A0 Try to carefully assess what was actually done at the=20 factory, and what has been done since then...looking especially to see=20= if there has been a change in the material under the back rail cloth.=A0=20= Usually, this would have had a layer of red key felt, often on top of=20 one or (sometimes, but not often) two layers of what amounts to manila=20= card stock (this latter usually dark brown in color).=A0 Also, check to=20= see when/if anyone has replaced the balance rail pivots; and/or the=20 front rail (felt) punchings.=A0 etc. In other words, before doing _anything_ try to get a very solid idea=20= of what it is you are looking at.=A0 Then, work backwards.=A0 As someone=20= (Andre?=A0 Isaac? sorry) noted, sometimes (even often) "just" a good,=20 solid regulation will do more for tone and projection than even many=20 technicians will believe. So, after all that, those look like S&S hammers; and, from what little=20= can be seen of them, they look as if they are fairly well molded and=20 shaped...so, look elsewhere before simply throwing them out and=20 starting elsewhere. Best. Horace Avery At 12:23 PM 8/31/04, you wrote: Jimminees Chrasmus.... look at those knuckle cores... that HAD to be=20 done willfully... .. or maybe its just the picture is a bit=20 distorted... RicB Barbara Richmond wrote: Thanks for all your wonderful suggestions, everyone! =A0 For your pleasure, I found this picture that I took of the action last=20= spring.=A0 As you can see, it has some obvious issues--like, when it was=20= having trouble, nobody bothered to regulate it!=A0 :-)=A0=A0 =A0 Well, I'm off to put some new casters on a church piano.=A0 Later! =A0 Barbara Richmond, RPT ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 3155 bytes Desc: not available Url : https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/e3/db/48/17/attachment.bin ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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