[pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

[Tom Rhea, Jr.]

Hi Del,

 

Do you have any recommendations of good hammer makers?  I'm rather new in
the business and haven't had to do a complete hammer job - yet - but I hope
to be doing one soon on a parlor grand and I'd rather have a good set of
hammers that will do justice for my client.

 

Thanks in advance,

Tom

 

PS: If you prefer, I can be reached privately at the e-mail address below.

 

T

 

Rhea Piano Service

Tom Rhea, Jr., Technician

(757) 373-0284

rheapiano at cox.net

www.rheapiano.com

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Greg Newell
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 11:14 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

 

The only real problem being that so very many have a dummied down idea of
what piano tone should be that their techniques work for the majority of the
market place. :-(

 

Greg

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Delwin D Fandrich
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 10:58 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

 

Yes, well, good luck with that..

 

I'd be happy if hammer makers would simply stick within the known bounds of
what wool will tolerate. It's been known for some time now that pressing
wool felt with lots of moisture and too much pressure and too much heat
produces piano hammer shaped objects that are incapable of producing the
basic musical nuances we expect from our pianos yet some hammermakers-and
pianomakers-continue pressing wool felt with too much moisture and too much
pressure and too much heat forcing the stuff into something having the
shape-but not the soul-of piano hammers. And piano technicians continue
buying these atrocities and they continue recommending the pianos fitted
with them to their overly trusting customers. And then, when the pianos
don't sound "right," they have to drag out every heroic voicing technique in
the book in a desperate attempt to make those piano hammer shaped
whatever-they-are musically less bad. Bah! Humbug!

 

ddf

 

Delwin D Fandrich

Piano Design & Fabrication

6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA

Phone  360.515.0119 - Cell  360.388.6525

del at fandrichpiano.com  <mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com> - ddfandrich at gmail.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Euphonious Thumpe
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 5:14 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

 


Yup. A very good argument for the development of synthetic wool hammers!
(And other piano felts -- as real wool collects humidity, thus encouraging
rust on contacted metal parts.)

Thumpe

 

  _____  

From: Delwin D Fandrich <del at fandrichpiano.com>; 
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>; 
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha 
Sent: Fri, Nov 30, 2012 5:55:38 AM 


Wool is hygroscopic. It does absorb and desorb moisture and the tone
characteristic changes as a result. Normally the change is slight and
gradual. This may not be so slight. 

I'd certainly let time do what it will before attempting to chemically
harden hammers that already have the reputation of being granite in
disguise. And then, if they do not harden up enough to cause permanent
hearing damage after they have dried out I'd sand off a layer before pouring
on the chemicals. And, as Ron suggested, I'd try ironing them a bit.

ddf

Delwin D Fandrich
Piano Design & Fabrication
6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA
Phone  360.515.0119 - Cell  360.388.6525
del at fandrichpiano.com <javascript:return>  - ddfandrich at gmail.com
<javascript:return> 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org <javascript:return>
[mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org <javascript:return> ] On Behalf
Of tnrwim at aol.com <javascript:return> 
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 8:30 PM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

Thanks for the advice, so far. As a follow, I've that high humidity has an
effect on hammers. This piano sat in empty house for five years in Hilo, but
was moved to Oahu 2 weeks ago and is now in an air condition hall. 

Hilo is on the Windward side of the Big Island of Hawaii, where it rains A
LOT. The piano is only 6 years old and has never been used. It has had a
string cover and a damp chaser, so there no damage, and the hammers are
virtually brand new. 

Would the being exposed to a lot of humidity be the reason the hammers are
soft, and if I just wait 6 months they will brighten up by themselves?

Wim
Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 29, 2012, at 3:57 PM, tnrwim at aol.com <javascript:return>  wrote:

> We usually have knock the edge off Yamaha hammers. But a church just got a
small grand where the killer octaves need a little boost.  What is the
recommended method for "juicing" up Yamaha hammers
> 
> Wim
> 
> Sent from my iPhone

 

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