[CAUT] Lacquered hammers

[David Love]

Yes, the discussion has been on mostly to do with concert instruments in
large venues.  Once you get to smaller pianos for individuals or small
venues, as has been mentioned, you have a lot more leeway and the choices
can be more driven by specific and individual needs and tastes.  In these
cases whether it’s redesign elements or hammer choices the needs of the one
may well outweigh the needs of the many.  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com



-----Original Message-----
From: rwest1 at unl.edu <rwest1 at unl.edu>
To: caut at ptg.org
Sent: Sun, Feb 20, 2011 1:30 pm
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Lacquered hammers
Most of the discussion has centered on large concert grands with the
assumption that one size fits all. This makes me wonder whether we've lost
sight of the true salon piano. Smaller venues would have put different
demands on piano builders of the early 20th century. There would not have
been as great a need for hard, driving hammers. Perhaps, therefore, lighter,
unlacquered hammers and a different geometry would have worked great then
and should be (or could be) the chosen route for smaller pianos today.
Several years ago there was a rush toward very light hammers and a geometry
to match. That seems to have fallen out of fashion because that design
didn't work very well on big pianos in large venues. How did that choice
work on smaller pianos? Much has been said about the virtue of choice and
diversity, so perhaps we shouldn't put all of our eggs in one design basket.
Perhaps we could rediscover the unvarnished (unlacquered) Steinway sound of
old, recreated in the smaller salons of the world. Especially now when we
have so many hammer and parts choices. 
 
Richard West