[CAUT] Fwd: Steinway sound-Hammer weights

[Fred Sturm]

On Mar 3, 2011, at 7:40 PM, David Love wrote:

> Understanding how to work with a voice down type of hammer is really
> important.  If you aren't familiar with that style of hammer on a NY  
> D and
> simply start crown needling like you do on a lacquered hammer you get
> nowhere fast and it's not a very good nowhere.


	I agree, except that I prefer not to think in terms of voicing down.  
Instead, it is a matter of developing potential and range. Yes, you  
may lower the top end, but it is more a case of building up the  
ability of the hammer to produce a full spectrum. In my experience,  
any "hard-pressed" hammer needs a measured and consistent amount of  
deep shoulder needling, generally 7 - 9 mm needles, plus a profile of  
needling up to the 1 - 2 mm point in the middle of the crown. Then  
maybe you do some crown needling as well. Number of strokes determined  
by feel and sound. I have long since abandoned the idea of the hammer  
you put on and call good enough. There are hammers that sound  
acceptable "out of the box," but they can always be improved.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu