1 string, 2 strings, 3 strings or more

[John Delacour]

At 23:54 21/09/01 -0500, Ron Nossaman wrote:
>>We have found that when the scale and the soundboard are working together we
>>are able to use quite soft hammers--such as those made by Steinway, Ronsen
>>and Isaacs--with excellent results and with virtually no lacquer in the
>>treble. Even these will generally require some needling through the tenor
>>and (sometimes) the bass and upper tenor. We couldn't possibly use Japanese
>>or German hammers. At least not as they are sold in the U.S.
>
>Likewise, on all counts. Rather dramatically too, I might add. This is a
>tough sell for most of the rebuilders out here (as it was for me before I
>assimilated a few more basic soundboard design truths than I had
>accumulated at that point), but it's dead on in practice.

Interesting.  So Steinway make their own hammers in the US.  I was not aware of that.  In Hamburg they use Abel's hammers (now covered with Laoureux felt, I have just learned from Laoureux).  Before that they used Renner hammers, which were made by Helmut Abel, then working for Renner.

The hammer I have had the most consistent and pleasing results with is the Imategawa with the unshaped walnut moulding.  These I obtain without impregnation and do all the boring and shaping myself.  Very little toning is required and what is needed is easy -- and more important I have never had a soft set.  I detest any use of dope.

I'd like to try the Ronsen or Isaacs hammers.  Have you got addresses for them?

JD