[pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

[Paul Williams]

I agree with the Abels.  I do like the natural felt I buy from Brooks.  They're very consistent set to set…so far!  I've been using Steinway hammers on the last 3 projects, and every set is different as night and day.  Not sure why.

Paul


From: Delwin D Fandrich <del at fandrichpiano.com<mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com>>
Reply-To: "pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>" <pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>>
Date: Friday, November 30, 2012 11:00 AM
To: "pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>" <pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

Yes, Ronsen. Abel also makes some hammers that are not rock hard—you have to be careful, though, some of Abel’s hammers are pretty dense and hard. I’ve even heard rumors that Renner is figuring out that they don’t have to melt wool to make piano hammers. I’ve not tried any of these myself so the risk is all yours. I think Isaacs is still pressing cold—or at least just warm—hammers. If you can get a set with the felt reasonably well centered and not overly sanded they are also pretty good.

ddf

Delwin D Fandrich
Piano Design & Fabrication
6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA
Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525
del at fandrichpiano.com <mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com> — ddfandrich at gmail.com<mailto:ddfandrich at gmail.com>

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of J Patrick Draine
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 8:52 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

Ronsen hammers, of course! Skilled American craftsmanship, Weickert Special felt (other felts available too), cold pressed.
Patrick Draine
On Fri, Nov 30, 2012 at 11:33 AM, Tom Rhea, Jr. <rheapiano at cox.net<mailto:rheapiano at cox.net>> wrote:
Hi Del,

Do you have any recommendations of good hammer makers?  I’m rather new in the business and haven’t had to do a complete hammer job – yet – but I hope to be doing one soon on a parlor grand and I’d rather have a good set of hammers that will do justice for my client.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

PS: If you prefer, I can be reached privately at the e-mail address below.

T

Rhea Piano Service
Tom Rhea, Jr., Technician
(757) 373-0284<tel:%28757%29%20373-0284>
rheapiano at cox.net<mailto:rheapiano at cox.net>
www.rheapiano.com<http://www.rheapiano.com>

________________________________
From:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org>] On Behalf Of Greg Newell
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 11:14 AM

To: pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

The only real problem being that so very many have a dummied down idea of what piano tone should be that their techniques work for the majority of the market place. :(

Greg

From:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org>] On Behalf Of Delwin D Fandrich
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 10:58 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

Yes, well, good luck with that….

I’d be happy if hammer makers would simply stick within the known bounds of what wool will tolerate. It’s been known for some time now that pressing wool felt with lots of moisture and too much pressure and too much heat produces piano hammer shaped objects that are incapable of producing the basic musical nuances we expect from our pianos yet some hammermakers—and pianomakers—continue pressing wool felt with too much moisture and too much pressure and too much heat forcing the stuff into something having the shape—but not the soul—of piano hammers. And piano technicians continue buying these atrocities and they continue recommending the pianos fitted with them to their overly trusting customers. And then, when the pianos don’t sound “right,” they have to drag out every heroic voicing technique in the book in a desperate attempt to make those piano hammer shaped whatever-they-are musically less bad. Bah! Humbug!

ddf

Delwin D Fandrich
Piano Design & Fabrication
6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA
Phone  360.515.0119<tel:360.515.0119> — Cell  360.388.6525<tel:360.388.6525>
del at fandrichpiano.com <mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com> — ddfandrich at gmail.com<mailto:ddfandrich at gmail.com>

From:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Euphonious Thumpe
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 5:14 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

Yup. A very good argument for the development of synthetic wool hammers! (And other piano felts -- as real wool collects humidity, thus encouraging rust on contacted metal parts.)

Thumpe


________________________________
From: Delwin D Fandrich <del at fandrichpiano.com<mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com>>;
To: <pianotech at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>>;
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha
Sent: Fri, Nov 30, 2012 5:55:38 AM
Wool is hygroscopic. It does absorb and desorb moisture and the tone
characteristic changes as a result. Normally the change is slight and
gradual. This may not be so slight.

I'd certainly let time do what it will before attempting to chemically
harden hammers that already have the reputation of being granite in
disguise. And then, if they do not harden up enough to cause permanent
hearing damage after they have dried out I'd sand off a layer before pouring
on the chemicals. And, as Ron suggested, I'd try ironing them a bit.

ddf

Delwin D Fandrich
Piano Design & Fabrication
6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA
Phone  360.515.0119<tel:360.515.0119> — Cell  360.388.6525<tel:360.388.6525>
del at fandrichpiano.com<mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com> — ddfandrich at gmail.com<mailto:ddfandrich at gmail.com>

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of tnrwim at aol.com<mailto:tnrwim at aol.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 8:30 PM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha

Thanks for the advice, so far. As a follow, I've that high humidity has an
effect on hammers. This piano sat in empty house for five years in Hilo, but
was moved to Oahu 2 weeks ago and is now in an air condition hall.

Hilo is on the Windward side of the Big Island of Hawaii, where it rains A
LOT. The piano is only 6 years old and has never been used. It has had a
string cover and a damp chaser, so there no damage, and the hammers are
virtually brand new.

Would the being exposed to a lot of humidity be the reason the hammers are
soft, and if I just wait 6 months they will brighten up by themselves?

Wim
Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 29, 2012, at 3:57 PM, tnrwim at aol.com<mailto:tnrwim at aol.com> wrote:

> We usually have knock the edge off Yamaha hammers. But a church just got a
small grand where the killer octaves need a little boost.  What is the
recommended method for "juicing" up Yamaha hammers
>
> Wim
>
> Sent from my iPhone



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