<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> It might very well be that thinned shanks help especially with harder hammers on low tension/light soundboard designs.  My own theory is that hammer resilience (bounce) matching string tensions in some way is critical for hammer/string contact time in terms of how partials develop vis a vis the fundamental.  With a poorly matched harder hammer on a light assembly, anything that assists in the effective resilience of the hammer shank assembly will be a benefit.  With softer hammers that are a better match for the string scale/soundboard interface, a thinned shank will not be necessary.  Similarly, with higher tension scales and accompanying stiffer soundboard assemblies, a thinned shank on a firm and heavier hammer won’t reap the same benefit and might, in fact, be a detriment.       <div> David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com </div> -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Chris Solliday Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2007 9:53 AM To: caut@ptg.org Subject: [CAUT] killer shanks   <div> Bob Hull </div> <div> Yes I taper/channel the whole set and sort by weight. I am told that the stiffening is akin to I-beam construction but I am not an engineer so consider that hearsay. Speaking of hearing just put a tapered shank in the middle of the bass section amongst the hex and see if you hear a difference. I do. I get a stronger 3rd partial most of the time and I like that. I think tha doing this clears up the tone of the whole piano. You should experiment for yourself. A factory channeled complete set is available from Abel through Wally Brooks who was the first person to point out the attributes of doing this for me.  As I recall they are only Hamburg specs but I have used them with success. Wally will also channel other sets for you for a small fee. I am told that other sets are available from Pianotek and others but I have not gotten any so consider that a rumor. Usually I channel my own with a router gig and/or free hand on a belt sander. It is surprising how quickly and uniformly they can be turned out which is why i often don't bother with the router set up. I sort by weight to help smooth the Strikeweight taper ala Stanwood. I hope we can get some slow mo video on the difference someday. </div> <div> Chris Solliday </div> </div> </body> </html>