Today's Topics: 1. Re: NY hammers/ Hamberg hammers (Fortenberry, Kevin) 2. Re: NY hammers/ Hamberg hammers (Brown, David) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- David, Thanks so much for this. Let me make sure I am understanding correctly; These Hammers that Lloyd Meyer/Renner sells as Hamgurg hammers, are they the same as the new hammers they (Renner)sell that are egg-shaped like Steinway hammers--the ones that everyone is talking about on the LIST, OR.... are these supposed to actually be "Hamburg Steinway" hammers, but they just really are not exactly the same?? Sorry for being painstaking on this, but I just so badly do not want to misunderstand. ALSO, do you find the extra thickness (and I am assuming added weight) is a real issue? I am thinking at this point that I could just carefully "trim" a bit of weight off the sides of the hammers (tapering as usual) with my disc sander. Using the electronic gram scale I may be able to get nearly the exact weight desired which MAY save some work/time weighing off the keys.(maybe not much, but it may help) Am I thinking right? I realize shift voicing will vary, etc--all would have to be worked out/regulated. Kevin Message: 2 Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:46:08 +0000 From: "Brown, David" <dcbrown at mail.smu.edu> Kevin and all- Lloyd Meyer at Renner USA has / will order Hamburg hammers. After recent discussions with a hammer supplier, though, I would have to agree with him that Lloyd?s hammers are somewhat different than the Hamburg hammers you would order from NY. If they are in stock ordering them from NY is simple, or at least as simple as it gets there. Either way, these hammers are very large and a mm or so wider than NY. I found the Renner USA?s to be somewhat softer having used both. Either one is a vast improvement and beautifully made. My 2 cents. David David C. Brown RPT Piano Technician Division of Music Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas Texas 1-214-768-3976 dcbrown at smu.edu [cid:3380273167_827341] Message: 1 Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:04:47 -0600 From: "Fortenberry, Kevin" <kevin.fortenberry at ttu.edu> To: "caut at ptg.org" <caut at ptg.org> Subject: Re: [CAUT] NY hammers/ Hamberg hammers Message-ID: <479217B95D01E44384935F3E4E515CD2010879F05EFD at COTTUS.ttu.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Paul, not only do I feel your pain, but the timing of this discussion is rather good. I am faced with this very decision on several pianos. I am, like you, interested in experimenting with the NY hammers, but we are facing budget cuts/time deadlines, etc. I really wish it were possible to just order the Hamburg hammers. I have heard from several sources that they are fabulous! I spoke with another technician friend at a rather large University and he says that it IS possible to order them, but even he admitted it is hard to do. (Anyone have any idea on this? Kent?) He says they are a denser felt than the Renner Blues, but do behave and voice very similarly to the blues. Almost every piano here at Texas Tech (except the few newer pianos we have) has Renner Blues (all 3 of our D-s included) which are great, but of course are fairly high maintenance and just do not seem to last all that long. I love the idea of the Hamburgs since they are "Steinway Hammers" which satisfies th ose who want to stick with Steinway parts, and those of us with limited time, and very limited $$$ don't have to experiment endless hours with lacquer/lacquer thinner fumes, paint masks that do not allow lacquer fumes to be breathed right into the lungs, etc. etc. Don't get me wrong, I love our Steinways! I am gun-ho about Steinways--probably to a fault, but someone please tell why we cannot just pick up the phone and order Hamberg hammers! In the meantime, I will see what you discover with these hammers, try some experimenting (thanks Fred for all the help with this!), and maybe try those Abel Naturals everyone keeps raving when possible. I have also heard the new Steinway shaped hammers from Renner are challenging to voice--but I have only talked to one rebuilder who had to file deeply to get any real tone. This could be wrong--are these anything like the Hamgergs, also made my Renner?? Best to all, Kevin Fortenberry -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of caut-request at ptg.org Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 9:51 AM To: caut at ptg.org Subject: CAUT Digest, Vol 28, Issue 30 Send CAUT mailing list submissions to caut at ptg.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://ptg.org/mailman/listinfo/caut or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to caut-request at ptg.org You can reach the person managing the list at caut-owner at ptg.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of CAUT digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: Bum set of NY hammers, I'm afraid (Fred Sturm) 2. Re: Bum set of NY hammers, I'm afraid (David Love) This set is lackluster from the bottom to the top. Perhaps they sent me a non-prelacquered set. I kept the old hammers and shanks, so I might switch them out, bring the new set to the shop and soak the crap out them with a 4:1 mix. I guess I have nothing to lose and education to gain from this. This is my first set of NY Hammers. I've been using Wallys Naturals for years. Maybe I shouldn't have messed around in a new world. I would have put on another set of Abels, but the piano dept head insisted on Steinway hammers as he's a "Steinway Concert Artist". I perhaps shouldn't have said anything, eh? and just used what I know how to use. What's to expect from Hamburg hammers? Never used those either. Keep em coming. Thanks guys! Paul
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC