On Thu, 9 Mar 1995, Barbara Richmond wrote: > Ron, > > I'm curious about your comments about the Kawais at Lansing-- > especially about the hammer softener. I've used softener with > excellent results, though I've never tried it on Kawai > hammers. Did someone use too much and the hammers fell apart? > Or did someone assume that if the hammers sound like cotton > balls that there's nothing that can be done? I got the impression that Owen felt it was necessary to take drastic measures to voice the hammers down. The first thing that sprang to mind was "Egads! The felt is gonna come unglued from the moldings!" Even if they did, I don't think it would have phased Owen--the piano he had at home had been in a fire, doused with water, and he didn't bother to replace *anything* because he wanted to see what effect the water would have on the various parts. It looked hideous, but Chopin and Beethoven sounded just fine on it all the same! The portrait view of the hammer felts on that one looked like one of those hair-do's from the 50s and 60s. Kinda "flippy" -- like gull wings. It was amusing to be in Owen's presence sometimes. Oh the stories the pianos at MSU would tell--if they could! Anyhow, back to the hammers on the Kawais; they didn't come unglued because he didn't stick them in the solution that deep--only the top 1/2" or so. Apparently, there was so much lacquer in the hammers that they didn't wick very much water. Don't know if he solved the constant string breaking problem. Ron Torrella "Ideal conversation must be an exchange of thought, School of Music and not, as many of those who worry most about their University of Illinois shortcomings believe, an eloquent exhibition of wit or oratory." -- Emily Post, Etiquette
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