Felt quality

[David Love]

You wrote:

 

 

"There used to be a lot of folks trying to justify doping hammers by 

asserting that you could get the same sound as needled hammers.  I am 

glad I dont hear this kind of thing anymore myself, because it really 

isnt true to begin with, and secondly... who should need such a 

justification to begin with ? Steinway NY states outright that they dont 

get the sound they want without using soft hammers built up with lacquer."

 

RB

 

 

My reaction was to the question of whether a lacquered hammer has a distinct
qualitative different from a non-lacquered hammer.  In other words, can you
hear the lacquer?  My point of clarification was that in the case of total
immersion where the lacquer reached the working part of the hammer (strike
point area) you could but in other cases where the lacquer was used away
from the strike point for reinforcing the shoulders, you really can't.
Having used countless sets of lacquered and non lacquered hammers over the
years, that is my view.  It has little to do with the difference between
Wurzen and Bacon on a Charles Walter piano.  Nor does my answer have
anything to do with whether a firmer or softer hammer is appropriate for a
particular piano or what can or can't be achieved in terms of needling.  In
fact, I comment in my original post that a harder or softer hammer will have
a different sound but those differences might be minimized by either
needling or playing in. 

 

With respect to lacquer changing over time, there have been a few on this
list who have commented on the longevity of lacquered hammers and how the
lacquer continues to harden over time.  You can go into the archives and
search it out if you wish.  That is also my experience and why I have come
to prefer not to use it especially in the area of the strike point.

 

Please don't play this game of innocence, your pulling out a meaningless and
inappropriate reference to the Charles Walter situation was a feeble attempt
to point out a contradiction from me in a crude pass at one-up-man-ship. 

 

Of course, you are welcome to comment on my postings as well as disagree.  I
presume I am afforded the same opportunity without those disagreements being
referred to as "potent broadsides".  All I'm asking is that you stick to the
issue and not attempt to restate what you think I have said, will say or
might say and spare me the trouble of correcting you as I've had to do here.
If you have a question on my position about something, ask me.  I will more
than happy to clarify it for you.  

 

 

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 Richard Brekne
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 12:52 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Felt quality

 

David.

 

I was simply responding to a post in which you responded to one of my 

posts.

 

http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/2007-October/211584.html

 

If misunderstandings occur, as they often do in the course of any 

discussion, one simply works them out.  Otherwise, differences in 

experience, tastes and preferences are commonplace do not constitute a 

reason to get ruffled.  I read as carefully as anyone, and do not engage 

in accusations about whos wasting the list time, who doesnt know this or 

that,  or as is in this case  "generally oversimplify, misstate, 

distort, mispresent..."  I do none of these things in reality.

 

If you post anything on this list, it is subject to comment and 

question... by anyone else. You dont hesitate to fire off potent 

broadsides whenever you wish. For my part... I endeavour to keep my 

posts as topical and non-personal as I can.

 

And on that note.. back to the actual topic of the discussion... I still 

am earnestly curious about the question I posed. And fwiw the commentary 

about stability of lacquer was simple edification... relation of 

observation as to how many people have different opinions on the matter. 

Not a big deal.

 

Cheers

RicB

 

 

    www.davidlovepianos.com

 

 

 

 

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