<HTML>           Hi Jeff<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> If the new hammers were on these pianos, it would be an improvement. >>>>>>>>  If your changing only the hammers it may not be an improvement at all as the leverages of the shorter parts will produce a touch of truck like proportions. Also I'm not convinced about the degree of tonal improvement that the heavier produce. Up to a point I think it can be benificial but a heavier hammer  also means a making it harder to get the balance of upper partials to shine thru and above C-5 heavier translates into a dampiing affect as the traveling wave in the string gets back to the hammer before it's off the string.   You know Steinway and their light hammer approach in the twentieth century produced pianos that Wowed the world with the tone and the touch and now everyone is saying that's not good enough anymore. I can buy some extra weight as a tonal improvement only in modest proportions like maybe a gram or so but not 2 or 3. Emporors new clothes or marketing scheme. Hmm you decide.</BLOCKQUOTE>       If You change to longer dimensioned parts to carry the extra weight the regulation could be seriously compromised. Short blow deep dip <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">    I seem to recall also that Kent and Eric both said that if you are not satisfied with new Steinway parts, return them, no hassle, and they will make them good.  </BLOCKQUOTE>    >>>As long as it's within the magic 30 day return window of oppurtunity and accompanied by a note as to what the problem is other wise you'll be asked for an explanation from Shannon. Believe me I know.              Dale Erwin    They are also now getting orders out within 24 hours<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> My thoughts. Jeff </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>