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<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT size=3> David, Mah
Brother</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT size=3> Comments below</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dale gets my full agreement on
his use of the Ronsen hammer with Bacon felt. I just completed a
change of hammers on a Yamaha S-400B using the Bacon felt and I believe it
is one of the most beautiful sounding instruments I have ever heard.
I would welcome any of my colleagues to hear this piano.</SPAN>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The
only thing I have done to the felt is to give the hammers a hard shaping
and the tone is spectacular. </SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Bruce
Stevens</SPAN></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></DIV>
<DIV>My only question with "soft" hammers is that my artist clients seem to
need a certain kinesthetic "pop" when the note is struck to feel comfortable
that the piano is projecting properly, and sometimes mellow, dark, more
fundamental-sounding pianos, pianos set up and voiced in a "softer" mode, do
not give that "pop" that makes the player feel good.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><STRONG><EM> If the hammers are truly soft or soggy then problems
occur. These Bacon felted hammers are firm without being hard as are
vintage Steinway un juiced Steinway hammers. They are firm when a single
needle is plunge deep & it doesn't just pop out but the felt gives it up
grudgingly. Love that!</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM> I understand your dilemma full well &
we/you must be able to take the hammer to the point it needs to be to give that
sense your boys/girls require. Getting it there is done by the
artistry of beautiful hammer shaping & string mating, ironing &
dilute juicing protocols when required instead of endless
needling.</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM> Also to taste something different requires trying it a
few times. Many musicians are so brainwashed /ear washed that it takes a
bit for them to go, wow ,this is really good,sweet...yes
powerful,clear,etc. The tone gets to develop. What a
ride.</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM> Also as the hammer seats & packs to the
string, the top harmonics/partials fill out & sustain increases the
more. Developing tone requires some patience & play in time. This
is easy. Taking a hammer that's too hard & getting it to fill out on
the bottom fundamental by excessive needling is the hard
part.</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> <STRONG><EM>Did my Steinway D give that Pop? Did any artist
complain or comment? Hmmm. Wait till you hear My Long A with Steinway felt
hamahs</EM></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV>Does that make any sense? It's something I work with all the time in
preparing pianos for recording----I want the piano to sound clear at every
volume, and brilliant, even piercing at high volume, because I know the artist
needs to hear/feel a certain "attack sense" through his/her fingers to feel
right. </FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV> <STRONG><EM>Different hammers for different folks &
ears</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2> I'm looking for soft high-compression hammers, I guess. I wish
Renner could give me a truly soft set of their best Wurzen hammers....Baldassin
and I have talked about this a lot.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2> <STRONG><EM>Try the Ronsen Wurzen. I wouldn't describe them
as soft...only slightly less dense but easy to get needles in when
required.</EM></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV>I'll have a CD of some tracks from the last two Atelier concerts
for all you lucky dudes and dudettes who are coming to the California State
PTG Conference in San Francisco next week. You'll give me your feedback, and
we'll yap yap yap about hammers and voicing and recording and
whatever.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><STRONG><EM> Looking forward to this Dave & the B with the
Bacon felt will be there for all to hear. & we will voice some notes
on it in class. SOund Good?</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM> Dale</EM></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV>Best,</DIV>
<DIV>David Andersen </DIV><BR>=</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
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