[pianotech] Replacing Hammers on a Yamaha C5

Michael Magness IFixPianos at yahoo.com
Wed Mar 11 17:20:24 PDT 2009


I was approached by a local school district about regualating their  Yamaha
C5 which is in a classroom and used a minimum of 5 hours daily. The piano
was new in 1978 and the hammers appear to have never been shaped. For a
number of years it was kept on the stage in a closet reserved for it and
used minimally. about 9 or 10 years ago it was moved to the classroom and
has remained there ever since.

The hammers could be shaped but with the use they get would not last more
than a few years and they are marginal for shaping anyway.
I checked with Yamaha, I recalled that they used to offer a fairly low price
on hammers mounted on shanks with flanges, the current price is $1400 and
change. This is a public school and price is a concern however doing the job
correctly is of a deeper concern for me.

My concern is, putting new japanese hammers on a piano of this age, since it
isn't being restrung. For a few hundred more I could replace the
shanks/flanges and replace the hammers with after market like Abels or
Ronsens.

I fully intend to rebush keys as necessary, bolster backchecks do any other
necessary repairs and regulate after the hammer replacement.

My reason for posting is, I'm looking for feedback and suggestions from
those who are experienced with hammer replacement on asian pianos of or
nearing this age, agree or disagree.

Mike



-- 
I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
Steven Wright


Michael Magness
Magness Piano Service
608-786-4404
www.IFixPianos.com
email mike at ifixpianos.com
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