Hammer Types

[David Love]

I think you need to get over ascribing statements about universal truths to
those who claim a preference simply because they may not agree with your
own.  Choosing a piano to build or play, or a tonal concept to develop is
just about that: choice.  There are many choices out there (most of them on
the louder, more percussive, bigger bangier side) and trying to fit every
piano into a single box or compare every piano on the same terms is simply a
mistake.  High tension and low tension scales demand different soundboard
performance, require different hammers and produce different types of tone.
Unless you've heard a piano such as the one below and can determine for
yourself whether a soft hammer is capable of producing both power and
brilliance as well as the ability to play down to a whisper or produce a
better timbral balance on a particular design, I would be reluctant to make
claims about what can or can't be done based on your belief rather than
experience or knowledge.  

That you have a personal philosophy about tone is certainly within your
right.  And if you prefer, you can try and fit every piano you come across
into that little box whether the piano belongs there or not.  But I would be
cautious about allowing philosophy to become ideology and with it the need
to provide all the answers without first understanding the questions.  

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Ric Brekne
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 3:32 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Hammer Types

Oh this gets into a whole range of variables and to my mind quite 
perfectly describes the fatality in trying to define one type of 
approach or sound as universally preferable to another. It just isnt 
so.  True enough, individual voicers like their own approaches, and some 
pianists will prefer one style of voice over another. But to ascribe a 
group of pianists a lack of ability/need for being able to play 
pianisimo because they prefer one over another is something I cant buy, 
and for several reasons.

To begin with, if you use hammers that are capable of playing so much 
softer then another as is being implied here, then there is simply no 
way you can avoid sacrificing brilliance and power.  Regardless of other 
instrument design issues. Secondly, since the dynamic range is in fact 
relative to its midtpoint, any given pianist is potentially capable of 
exploiting that range, where ever it is centered for the particular 
instrument. We are very clearly in the domain of personal preference 
again which leaves us with only one tool for attempting to find anything 
even close to a "universally" applicable principal. Consensus.. and one 
that is very large taken over time and free of any influences that color 
the result.

These things also are subject to change over time.  What any general 
consensus people liked 30 years ago is not necessarily what they like 
today and the same applies for the future. Nor is it the same from 
region to region.  If my experience with pianists of all levels... from 
Leif Ove Andsnes to Jack DeJonett to Proffessors at university levels to 
students, teachers, organist/pianists to whatever has taught me anything 
at all it is that what they <<like>> piano-responsive-wise is a far more 
fickle figure then any narrow window will allow passage for.

Here in Europe for example... seems apparent to me that a rounder less 
pointed/glassy voice is more generally preferred then in America.  No I 
dont have any statistics... personal observation... but it would suprise 
me greatly if I found this to be in error.  And in Japan again there is 
still another voicing reality. Evidenced by comments from the many 
Japanese exchange students that come through UiB.

I have no doubt that you found a wonderful sound for the piano below, 
and that you chose a hammer that suited your style of voicing and your 
piano voice preferences... and to some degree the design of the piano.  
But farther then that in declaring truths.... I just see no point in going.

Cheers
RicB

----------
Our choice was confirmed over the next several days as a number of other 
people
were able to listen to and evaluate these three pianos. The piano with the
Ronsen/Bacon hammers was growing in popularity.

The preference for the harder sounding hammers does depend, somewhat, on the
type of music being played. It has been my observation that some 
pianists really
have little use for a broad timbral range. Several of the folks who 
expressed a
preference for the Ronsen/Wurzen (or the Abel) hammers played with a fairly
heavy hand. In some cases rarely, if ever, getting much below a 
mezzo-forte. In
these cases there is little need for anything approaching pianissimo.

Del