<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2614.3500" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Mr. Antares,</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A <U>restoration </U>does not, in = musium work, include replacing any thing!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If one were to <U>replace any = parts,</U> it is not a restoration, but, at least,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>an attempt at a partial <U>rebuild!! </U>  <EM>I am addressing the difference between</EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>restoration and rebuild of course.</EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bob</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Subject: Re: advice on action/hammers</FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> Dear Mr. Larry = McFatter,<BR>> It is my opinion that when one does a restoration, one should go all = the<BR>> way. It is therefor necessary to replace, in any case, the shanks and the<BR>> hammer heads.<BR><BR> <BR>> Friendly = greetings<BR>> from<BR>> <BR>> Antares <BR>> Amsterdam, Holland<BR>> = <BR>> > From: Larry E McFatter <<A href="mailto:mcfatter@csusb.edu">mcfatter@csusb.edu</A>><BR>> = > Reply-To: <A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A><BR>> > Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 14:37:04 -0800<BR>> > To: <A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A><BR>> > = Subject: advice on action/hammers<BR>> > <BR>> > I'm not a technician = but a performing pianist who is very interested in<BR>> > great piano = sound. I'm facing a decision about my own piano for which I<BR>> > need the = advice of professionals who make these decisions on a regular<BR>> > basis. = Eighteen months ago I bought from a rebuilder/restorer a Mason &<BR>> > = Hamlin A made about 1918 that is used as my practice piano at home. At = the<BR>> > time of purchase everything had been restored/refinished (new pin = block,<BR>> > pins, shimmed and refinished soundboard, dampers, new strings, = case<BR>> > refinished, etc.) except the action and hammers which are the original<BR>> > ones. The piano had apparently not been played = much in its previous life and,<BR>> > since the action and hammers were still = in acceptable condition, the<BR>> > decision was made not to = rebuild/replace them yet. I've given the piano a<BR>> > workout and listened to it = very closely since its purchase. I'm now<BR>> > satisfied that the = restoration work that has been done to date has been<BR>> > good and that the = piano has inherently a fine, broad tonal spectrum, but<BR>> > the tone = is being compromised by the old hammers and action. So I'm asking<BR>> > = for your advice on which action and hammer combination (i.e. Renner = action<BR>> > + Abel hammers, a Japanese action + Renner hammers, etc.) you believe = will<BR>> > give me the tonal results that I want to achieve and superb = control, even<BR>> > at very soft dynamics. Because the piano is used in my = home I need somewhat<BR>> > different tonal characteristics than I might = need for a piano in a recital<BR>> > hall or playing with an orchestra. I'm = very concerned to avoid that<BR>> > shallow, over-bright, strident tone = that tends to plague the asian pianos<BR>> > (especially) after only a = few years of regular use. It's been suggested to<BR>> > me that I = avoid high tension hammers in favor of ones that may initially<BR>> > sound a = bit mushy but will age more gracefully. True? Here's what I want:<BR>> = > <BR>> > 1. a dark, rich tone at soft dynamics (like dark chocolate?);<BR>> > 2. a warm, round tone at medium dynamics (milk = chocolate?);<BR>> > 3. an edge of bell-like brightness (but not over-bright or strident) at loud<BR>> > dynamics (milk chocolate = swirled with tart raspberry?).<BR>> > <BR>> > Any thoughts? (about = the piano, I mean; I already have plenty of chocolate).<BR>> > = <BR>> > Larry McFatter<BR>> > Music Department<BR>> > California = State University, San Bernardino<BR>> > <A href="mailto:mcfatter@csusb.edu">mcfatter@csusb.edu</A><BR>> > = <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> <BR>> </FONT></BODY></HTML>