Jenn-you-whine Steinway parts

[David Love]

Renner parts on Steinways sometimes work fine, but not always.  Sometimes
the profile is wrong and the convergence line isn't correct.  The Steinway
wippens and shanks that I've seen recently  have been fine, though in the
past they had lots of problems with pinning and warping.  I still use
Steinway hammers frequently and though they need lacquering to build tone, I
like what you get from them.  Renner blues are a good hammer, but I don't
really care for the tone on a Steinway.  Ronsen's would be my next choice.
I also have had good success with Abel shanks, the jury is still out on the
wippens.  We are fortunate that with Steinway there are many choices of
manufacturers for parts.

David Love

----- Original Message -----
From: "D.L. Bullock" <dlbullock@att.net>
To: "Pianotech@Ptg. Org" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: May 11, 2002 9:48 AM
Subject: Jenn-you-whine Steinway parts


> I have had almost idential experience with "Jenn-you-whine" Steinway
parts.
> My answer is the same for Steinways as for any other fine piano
> rebuild---Renner, Renner, Renner.  Hammers need almost no voicing, shanks
> are great and wippens are great.  You cannot go wrong with the three way
> Renner rebuild.  You must get them from Renner USA and Lloyd Meyer (sp?)
in
> Carefree, Arizona.  From anywhere else you may pay too much.
>
> I am very distressed about Steinway using Polyurethane glue.  Hot animal
> Hide glue is all I would ever want to use for Hammers.
>
> D.L. Bullock
> www.thepianoworld.com
> St. Louis
>
> Original message---------------
> Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 11:22:49 -0500
> From: "Greg Torres" <Tunapiana440@cox.net>
> Subject: Re: Re: 1969 Steinway L CBS?
>
> FWIW...
>
> My latest and perhaps my last experience with Steinway parts was not a
good
> one. I did a partial action rebuild recently for a customer's 'M' because
of
> bad verdigree which consisted of hammers, shanks/flanges and whipens . The
> customer insisted on genuine Steinway parts. As there was (and I believe
> still is) a weird factory schedule going on at the time (last November) I
> was not able to receive the pre-hung set of hammers and shanks they
offered
> so I had to go with separate hammer and shank/flange sets. The quality of
> the hammers was awful IMO and the average difference between the hammer
bore
> and shank diameter was so great that the hammers literally rocked on the
> shanks as much as 7-8 degrees. I sent this first set of hammers and shanks
> back and when the second sets came back the hammers were even worse
quality
> than the first and the bore/shank diameter was the same. For example, the
> thickness of the reinforcement felt on the extreme treble hammers was
about
> 1/8" compared to the original hammers which were about 1/32" thick. These
> hammers were more like sponges! I had to literally saturate these hammers
in
> hardner.
>
> Then I got a call from Steinway because they received my returned parts
and
> said that there was nothing wrong with the "fit" ....WTF? When I gave them
> the specs of the original hammer bore they said that the loose fit is
normal
> and that the factory can only bore their hammers to that of what I
received,
> so if I didn't like this loose a fit then either send them back (again, I
> lose money on my time, shipping and insurance, etc) or use polyurethane
> glue...
>
> Because of time constraints and an increasing monetary loss I wound up
using
> these crappy parts and polyurethane glue, you know, the kind that expands
to
> fill gaps...
>
> I will not ever buy genuine Steinway parts again unless the customer
> absolutely insists. And then I certainly will charge a hell of a lot more
> money for repairs. Also, I got a call back from the client a few days ago
> still wanting more brilliance in the treble...so I have to go back next
week
> and try more hardener or perhaps (yikes!!) different hammers...
>
> BUT, I will end this rant by saying that the quality of the original
> Steinway parts was very very good, except for the verdigree problem. I
saved
> them with thoughts of rebushing them perhaps. But I have heard that the
> verdigree will eventually come back even by doing this...
>
> Best,
> Greg
>
> PS If anyone can recommend suppliers of substitute (read: better?)
> hammers/parts for Steinways I am all ears...Thanks
>
>