Hammer Replacement

[McNeilTom@aol.com]

Dave Swartz, and List -

I like Gina Carter's mileage analogy, and I concur wholeheartedly with Jim
Coleman.  It takes a great deal of time and attention to maintain a concert
piano to high standards.  It seems a misappropriation of technical resources
(your time, parts budget, etc.) to try to keep a high-use practice piano
concert ready.  In my experience, performance pianos are kept out of general
use, "saved" if you will.  There usually is a modest amount of rehearsal time
allowed so that the pianist can get used to the instrument and the hall.

In a message dated 98-10-26 21:40:26 EST, Jim Coleman writes:

<< I always felt that the key performance piano should be used only for 
 Concerts. If that is not possible, then more frequent replacement will 
 be needed. If the piano is also used by performance majors for their
 regular practice (16 Hours a day) then, you should plan on replacement 
 of hammers shanks and flanges every two years. If it has limited use by 
 piano instructors, perhaps replacement every 4 or 5 years will be good.
 
 Upper Treble strings will need to be replaced with every second hammer
 replacement.
 
 Jim Coleman, Sr.  >>