Steinway hammers

[Alan W Deverell]

One of the significant differences between Steinway NY and Hamburg (as
with most other European Piano makers) is that NY use Softer Felt for
their hammers and then harden it up with dope/lacquer etc. In Europe
the reverse technique is adopted i.e.. Harder Felt voiced BACK to
soften/even the tone.

I have discussed the pros. & cons. of this with several very qualified
Technician/Builders and I shall just say that:

"While the SAME results can ultimately be achieved by either method -
the long term results seem to be in favor of beginning with hardened
Felt"

Your choice in this MUST be guided by the training and methods with
which your Technician is most comfortable - tempered by the TONE
specification which you desire for your piano.

It is NOT uncommon for the hammers to be re-covered - this is like
changing the oil of your car - just make sure that you get the correct
grade to suit your engine (read - tonal colour preference).

If you are a ENTHEUSIASTIC pianist, try "Piano-L" which is the
Performers and Teachers forum and just as stimulating as "Piano-Tech"
but more musical.

To join post an "e-mail" with "Subject" completely blank and the
single word "Subscribe" (without the double quotes) in the "message"
line - nothing else.

piano-l@uamont.edu

see you there?

AlanD (spying on Piano-Tech - just briefly)

>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org
>[mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
>Of Jeuxdeau@aol.com
>Sent: Saturday, June 06, 1998 10:21 AM
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: Steinway hammers
>
>
>Hi !
>
>I recently signed onto your list and am extremely impressed
>with some of the
>technical discussions - I never realized piano technology
>was such an art!
>
>I have one question for which an answer will make me forever
>indebted to you
>folks.....
>
>I have a new "B".  At this point, I am having this
>instrument tuned every 2
>months.  Is it "normal" to also need a full voicing that
>frequently?  In order
>to get one "voice", my technician had to extensively voice
>80 of the 88
>hammers to match a few odd-balls.  The resulting sound was
>extremely muffled,
>but evenly voiced.  He told me that the hardening agent was
>very unevenly
>applied to the hammers at the factory.  I am a trained
>pianist, and I can
>attest to the fact that he truly did a remarkable job in
>voicing -- something
>the dealer tech, even after two attempts, could not do !  (I
>am hanging on to
>this new tech!)  I understand the cold-press/hot-press
>difference and that
>Steinway hammers are more variable than most, but is the
>variance I have
>described excessive/typical/acceptable from a new "B" ?  I
>am considering
>having the hammers replaced because since the last voicing,
>I have driven the
>piano only about 20 hours (with "elevator music"), and the
>odd-balls are
>already prominently sticking out of the aural terrain.
>
>Thank you.
>