>I recently put Abel hammers on a B with great results. But there is no >sound like Steinway hammers voiced to their fullest. I have renewed awe >for the brand, and am very thankful for all the information that you >people put on this forum! It is a great resource. >Mark Graham I echo Mark's support for the NY Steinway Hammer. When treated properly they are the best hammer in the world and embody the qualities in my favorite voicing quote: "The art in hammer making has ever been to obtain a solid, firm foundation, graduating in softness and elasticity toward the top surface, which latter has to be silky and elastic in order to produce a mild, soft tone for pianissimo playing, but with sufficient resistace back of it to permit the hard blow of fortissimo playing." - Alfred Dolge 1911 An interesting note. A hammer is the felt and the felt is the fiber. Long renowned in felt making circles is the wool fiber from South African Merino Sheep. The finest, most resilient felt is produced from blends that have a high percentage of this fiber. For decades South African wool fiber has been generally absent from piano hammers produced with felt made by countries who joined in the embargos on the previously racist regime. With the uplifting change in politics and the lifting of embargos, South African Merino Wool Fiber is once again used in Steinway hammers. This information is from the president of the Bacon Felt Co. in Taunton Mass. who produce hammer felt for Stenway, not to far from my home on Martha's Vineyard. David C. Stanwood
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