Use Steinway hammers put on by someone who is familiar with the specific voicing procedures (i.e. proper filing, use of lacquer as hardener etc.)for that type of hammer. I have used this type of hammer on Mason Hamlins several times and the tone is as you describe. David Love >From: Larry E McFatter <mcfatter@csusb.edu> >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org >To: pianotech@ptg.org >Subject: advice on action/hammers >Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 14:37:04 -0800 > >I'm not a technician but a performing pianist who is very interested in >great piano sound. I'm facing a decision about my own piano for which I >need the advice of professionals who make these decisions on a regular >basis. Eighteen months ago I bought from a rebuilder/restorer a Mason & >Hamlin A made about 1918 that is used as my practice piano at home. At the >time of purchase everything had been restored/refinished (new pin block, >pins, shimmed and refinished soundboard, dampers, new strings, case >refinished, etc.) except the action and hammers which are the original >ones. The piano had apparently not been played much in its previous life >and, >since the action and hammers were still in acceptable condition, the >decision was made not to rebuild/replace them yet. I've given the piano a >workout and listened to it very closely since its purchase. I'm now >satisfied that the restoration work that has been done to date has been >good and that the piano has inherently a fine, broad tonal spectrum, but >the tone is being compromised by the old hammers and action. So I'm asking >for your advice on which action and hammer combination (i.e. Renner action >+ Abel hammers, a Japanese action + Renner hammers, etc.) you believe will >give me the tonal results that I want to achieve and superb control, even >at very soft dynamics. Because the piano is used in my home I need somewhat >different tonal characteristics than I might need for a piano in a recital >hall or playing with an orchestra. I'm very concerned to avoid that >shallow, over-bright, strident tone that tends to plague the asian pianos >(especially) after only a few years of regular use. It's been suggested to >me that I avoid high tension hammers in favor of ones that may initially >sound a bit mushy but will age more gracefully. True? Here's what I want: > >1. a dark, rich tone at soft dynamics (like dark chocolate?); >2. a warm, round tone at medium dynamics (milk chocolate?); >3. an edge of bell-like brightness (but not over-bright or strident) at >loud >dynamics (milk chocolate swirled with tart raspberry?). > >Any thoughts? (about the piano, I mean; I already have plenty of >chocolate). > >Larry McFatter >Music Department >California State University, San Bernardino >mcfatter@csusb.edu > > _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.
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