<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue id="role_body" bottomMargin=7 leftmargin=7 topmargin=7 rightMargin=7> <div class=Section1> I think the question is “compared to what?”.  A set of hammers with an ideal pressing from top to bottom, with good quality resilient felt that doesn’t need 50 stitches in each shoulder just isn’t that available.  I don’t think there’s any inherent tonal quality in a lacquered hammer that can’t be achieved without lacquer.  The problem is that we are often choosing the best option available.  A light lacquering of a hammer which is somewhat too soft often produces a better sound than a hammer that’s had the life squeezed and heated out of it and/or that must be needled until our arms fall off.  Too often those are the two choices available and when that is presented I would also choose the light lacquering though my preference is to achieve proper tone without lacquer or anything else—extremes excepted.  However, I would still like to think that a well made hammer, with good quality felt, reinforced as needed, with well calculated and precise pressing, should produce clarity, adequate power and a broad range of dynamics without excessive needling or the use of chemicals.  In order for that to happen it seems that the felt maker and hammer maker have to be working in sync and I agree with JD that the art of that seems to be somewhat lost at present.  At the moment, Ronsen comes the closest to achieving what I want to hear in his various iterations.  There are many other hammers that present very nicely (they look good), but the sound just isn’t there, at least not for me.  All I can say is that for most of the major manufacturers, something is missing.  I wish I could elaborate on exactly what that is.    <div> David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com </div> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Tom Servinsky Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 6:30 PM To: Pianotech List Subject: Re: Felt quality   <div> Dale, </div> <div> You aren't alone. I find lightly lacquered hammers to have a clarity and quality of tone that I find very attractive.  Wurzen hammers especially respond very well to a 10:1 solution.  A 10:1 solution is what hair spray is to hair...a slight stiffening agent. </div> <div> Tom Servinsky </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> <div> ----- Original Message ----- </div> <div style='font-color:black'> From: <a href="mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com" title="Erwinspiano@aol.com">Erwinspiano@aol.com</a> </div> <div> To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title="pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> </div> <div> Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 7:48 PM </div> <div> Subject: Re: Felt quality </div> <div>   </div> <div> <div>    JD </div> <div>    Don't shoot me yet or flambeau me.  I may be the only lacquer maverick in the herd, but all the friendly & accurately assessed cynicism aside, I find a properly made Softer hammer with quality felt will illicit a tone character I find very attractive when treated lightly with a low dosage of lacquer. To my ear, this sound is difficult to replicate with hammers without it.The lacquer in this specific case doesn't render it un-needle-eable  un- less over done. </div> <div>   I admit lacquer- ing hammers is the most abused voicing technique.(Well maybe not) but it really may not have to do with a hammer that's properly made.  The hammers themselves are made to be lacquered such as Steinway hammers used to be.  No there pre-lacquered before shipping & I can't use these any more. </div> <div>   A Softer hammer will illicit a very strong & gloriouos fundamental from the git go,which is the very thing harder hammers fail miserable to produce & often,even after considerable needling.  And since sustain is so vital to the musical experience, not noise as Ron points out, its a curious as to how we've been brainwashed to think hammers made like concrete that need  hours & hours of needling are the answer either. If a hammer needs to be lacquered beyond the point where needles are effective then it may be improperly made or simply the wrong hammer choice for that particular sound board system. The list is replete with this insightful discussion just this year </div> <div>   I think you guys that can custom order from Renner in Europe can mostly avoid this as Andre & Ric have & here we have the beautiful variations of the Ronsen Product utilizing three or four different felts. </div> <div>   Just my perspective </div> <div>   Dale </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> > I read a lot on this list about doping hammers.  Why should it be > necessary to dope any hammer that is properly made from the proper felt > in the first place? > > JD Lots of reasons, mostly having to do with soundboard efficiency or lack thereof, followed by hammer quality, and generations of consumer training to the effect that any piano not producing noise well beyond the ever rising pain threshold needs harder hammers. Ron N </blockquote> </div> <div>   </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> See what's new at <a href="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170" target="_blank" title="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170">AOL.com</a> and <a href="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169" target="_blank" title="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169">Make AOL Your Homepage</a>. </div> </blockquote> </div> </body> </html>