---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment The ability of the hammer fibers to move longitudinally is in my mind the essence of good powerful piano tone. In my work I HAVE to lacquer because on a softer hammer with a limited amount of springyness there is no other way to increase volume. I lacquer frequently but wouldn't if the hammer had the movement to push the string into motion and get off quickly rather that to push the string out of its place of rest just at the striking point giving me what I call a Wheeeoo sound that is short on the fundamental and rapidly goes into a deviant harmonic splash. I don't know any other way to express it. The older Steinway hammers were softer and almost silky to the touch. I've always thought that it was more lanolin that remained in the hammer fiber, giving it a resilience. When you file those older hammers you have all sorts of trash and black spots that are trapped inside. I have always assumed that they didn't "clean the wool very well" leaving more lubricant inside which also actually made it sound better. This is just my thought on this. I also feel that the lacquer sound has been accepted by most pianists in this country. I have over the years used about every other hammer in rebuilding as well as S&S to try to get what I heard years ago in the Steinway hammers that were still around from the pre 20's. Sometimes I have gotten close. I try to needle, iron and file to get the best out of an intrinsically soft hammer but bright is what sells. Topperpiano (TP) ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/f1/4b/81/23/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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