[pianotech] choice of hammers

[erwinspiano at aol.com]

      Hi Brian
 I could have used different words and let my opinion run a bit fast and loose. I apologize humbly to you...but consider this...
 You've obviously taken the initiative to expose yourself to good training and may I suggest its only for one tonal model of hammer and, those voicing skills for that will serve you well in that concept. 
   Perhaps your assessment of after market hammers could be simply a lack of exposure to the less densified felt hammers available and the voicing techniques required. And to quote you "I don't' want a hammer I have to fill with lacquer" or something like that show to me perhaps a lack of exposure to this stlye that can yield truly beautiful,clear & yet msucially powerful tone..and with out all the ear splitting impact sound we encounter in the field.
  Also the issue of hammer choice based on sampling is a great and intelligent approach to this work as David Love and others have so often endorsed. 
  In my expereince each piano has a voice that respond intrinsically well to one style of hammer and not to another. The closer you get to what it likes the less voicing one will need to do as well as secure voicing stability & musicality for the client who is paying the bill.
   My rule of thumb is a stiff belly requires a stiff hammer. A flexible belly require a less stiff hammer.
   I agree with David here. He & I, as many others,have used a wide variety of hammers and what he states in the bold print below is an observable fact by any tech in the field. The high decibel level and the non-musical sound quality (oxymoron) of so many factory hammers is appalling at best & doesn't show off the potential of the otherwise fine soundboard system that was so fastidiously engineered. And, I mean so many brands of pianos. 
   I've heard some amazing bellys in all types of pianos and it was sabotaged by predominatly hard hammers. I've replaced hammers in all kinds of pianos with a less densified hammer and the tonal improvement was immediate/stupendous & without hours of needling and the subsequent rebound effect that is so typical. The denser versions of hammers have there useage and can also produce fantastic results..... and, have place in my work as well but its less common and again based on sampling.
  The factories somehow have the mistaken notion that all piano tuners are voicing literate and are going to voice their pianos. Not to offend any one else, I don't find this to be the case and Like me many techs are perplexed by attempts to voice some these hammers and many just grin and bear it when the client refuses the voicng upgrade  proposal. 
  Many posts on this list have been how to deal with the Petrified felt hammer. Snuggle conditioner,vice grips,(Voice grips) moto tool with a needle etc. Taking the time to voice these harsher pianos often yield really good result but only when the hammers are workable band it require an upsell to the client & a willingness to do it by us.
 I hope you find what your looking for.
  Enough said....maybe
 Dale
  
 
  While the goal for some factories is to choose an out of the box hammer that can be brought to the showroom floor in a state which emphasizes power over other considerations (as is the Japanese aesthetic model—and that’s not a criticism, just a statement) that still doesn’t mean that they won’t change over the first 100 or so hours of playing.  I can’t tell you the number of times that customers have called me after various after market hammers have been installed on their pianos complaining that the piano sounded just fine right at first but within a short period of time became strident and harsh. 


    I can also say, having put on many sets of “softer” out of the box hammers, that while they started underneath the desired level within a relatively short period of time they achieved a level that the players found very desirable and moreover remained much more stable having been played in to that level rather than forcing them to start there without adequate play in time.  So, a different experience for me altogether but I guess that’s why they make chocolate and vanilla.   
 

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com

 

Subject: Re: [pianotech] choice of hammers

 
Dale,
I don't believe there is a hearing loss problem. I know what I am after with tonality, especially with my own piano. And, I might have enough musical knowledge to know that some after market hammers are weak in tone... and they never improve. So that means to me that at some musical level the hammer will not be satisfactory. Yes, thanks to Messrs Suzuki, Yamamoto, Haruda and Goka from Kawai in Hamamatsu, I know what my piano can produce. I know the building process and the voicing processes. I have also replaced hammers with factory duplicates, and I have never needed to let the hammer mature. My clients would find this unacceptable. Fitting and voicing, and follow up service. And btw a few other factories do the same. I wanted a better quality hammer other than ordering Kawai originals.
As per a balanced tone spectrum, all I can add is that if it is easy to play softly and difficult to play loudly, there is a voicing issue. New pianos in factories also do not have this problem. At the present time, the original hammers are not too hard, considering I can remember the sounds from my training in Japan. I could also go to the local Kawai dealer and compare the two pianos.. and they are very similiar. I  am replacing the butts because the synthetic leather on the butt and catcher is unsatisfactory, causing regulation problems. Might as well replace the hammers I thought.
 
I asked the list for a recommended quality hammer. Your opinions may be different to mine, and I respect that, but choosing to write "verbiage about power etc" is not respectful to me.
Regards
Brian




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