Pinning on new flanges

[A440A@aol.com]

Ryan writes:
<< If Roger Jolly evens out his voicing by evening out hammer pinning doesn't 
this prove that the tightess of the bushing also has an effect on the hammer 
to string contact time? >>

Greetings,
  Not necessarily. There are other factors that may be in play here.  One is 
that the tighter pinning allows less oscillation of the hammer as it is 
accelerated towards the string.  I don't know how much difference that makes, but I 
do know of many instances where a hammer that just barely touches an outer 
string of the tri-chord will miss it completely on a forceful blow, so I know 
there is lateral inconsistancy in the shank/hammer component. 
   The other consideration is that there is a transient pulse that is 
reflected back through the action upon contact with the string.  A looser pinning may 
allow the shank to vibrate in a phase relationship that robs power, or 
otherwise alters the delivery of force to the string, (think about hitting a 
baseball on the bat far away from the "sweet spot",  there is a lot of energy put 
into your hands instead of the ball).  
     Dwell time may not be the entire reason that changing pinning tension 
alters the sound. 
REgards,   
Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html