Tensioned hammers and "the staple"

[Richard Brekne]

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Well, I pull staples and have never noticed a problem. Nor has doing so
ever effected tone in any big way.

>From what I have heard through the years it seems that perhaps in some
climates where conditions can vary in the extreme, the staple has some
function in holding the felt to the wood core. But other then this
nothing I have ever heard leads me to believe there is any reason to
fear pulling them out.

That being said, they do weigh a bit.. which translates into touch
weight. That might actually be desirable, or it might not be... depends
on your situation.

I used to pull staples way back when just because I thought they were a
pain in the patootey for reshaping hammers. Now the only reason I remove
them is for weight concerns.

I pulled out a set on a Hamburg "C"  just last spring without a worry. I
noticed no real change in voicing. But then this piano is about 15
years old and had a lot of use, and voicing sessions.



David Love wrote:

> While in Reno I had a conversation with two established
> representatives of well known hammer manufacturer's regarding the
> function of the staple.  both agreed that it was of little use for
> keeping the felt attached to the core once the glue dried.  Beyond
> that, however,  I was given two bits if information in total
> opposition.  One argued that the staple was necessary for maintaining
> tension in the hammer and that pulling the stable would destroy the
> tone,  the other argued that the staple serves no purpose, really,
> and, in fact, pulling the staple would release some tension in the
> lower part of the hammer accomplishing to some degree what prevoicing
> in the low shoulder is designed to do.  He went on to say that many
> concert voicers automatically pulled the staple when setting up a new
> set of hammers for precisely that reason.   Can anyone comment on this
> apparent disagreement. David Love

--
Richard Brekne
RPT, N.P.T.F.
Bergen, Norway
mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no


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