<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'> <div><font style="background-color: transparent;" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;">Come to WestPacIII in March. Jack Brand will give a discussion on Weikert felt and hammer making processes, and I will be giving a class on choosing hammers where not only the characteristics of hammers will be discussed but hammer matching as well.    </span></font></div> <div></div> <div style="clear: both;"> <div> </div> <div>I'll be there. </div> <div>Wim</div> <div> </div> </div> <div></div> <div></div> <div style="color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica; font-size: 10pt;">-----Original Message-----<br> From: David Love <davidlovepianos@comcast.net><br> To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org><br> Sent: Fri, Nov 30, 2012 7:09 am<br> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha<br> <br> <div id="AOLMsgPart_1_23a79c6a-efc4-407d-961c-0b86b8dfecdf"> <div class="WordSection1"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;">Allow me to add something here.  </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;">Del is right but the trending is in the right direction, in my view.  Still some work to be done but hammers are getting softer as evidenced by new Yamaha iterations, some Abel hammers, Renner Blue Points.  Of course there is also Ronsen whose pressings are definitely on the softer side.  Isaac hammers are softer as well.  The maker is important but the match to the piano is more important.  </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;">Come to WestPacIII in March.  Jack Brand will give a discussion on Weikert felt and hammer making processes, and I will be giving a class on choosing hammers where not only the characteristics of hammers will be discussed but hammer matching as well.    </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div> <div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;">David Love</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.davidlovepianos.com" target="_blank">www.davidlovepianos.com</a></span></div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div> <div> <div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(181, 196, 223) currentColor currentColor; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org?">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Tom Rhea, Jr.<br> <b>Sent:</b> Friday, November 30, 2012 8:33 AM<br> <b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net">gnewell@ameritech.net</a>; <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a><br> <b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">Hi Del,</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">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.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">Thanks in advance,</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">Tom</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">PS: If you prefer, I can be reached privately at the e-mail address below.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">T</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div> <div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ;">Rhea Piano Service</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy; font-size: 10pt;">Tom Rhea, Jr., Technician</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy; font-size: 10pt;">(757) 373-0284</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: ;"><a href="mailto:rheapiano@cox.net">rheapiano@cox.net</a></span><span class="msoIns"><ins dateTime="2012-11-30T11:28" cite="mailto:%20"></ins></span></span><span style="color: navy;"></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: ;"><a href="http://www.rheapiano.com" target="_blank">www.rheapiano.com</a></span><span class="msoIns"><ins dateTime="2012-11-30T11:28" cite="mailto:%20"></ins></span></span><span style="color: navy;"></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="msoIns"><ins dateTime="2012-11-30T11:28" cite="mailto:%20"></ins></span></span><span style="color: navy;"> </span></div> </div> <div> <div style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><hr align="center" SIZE="2" width="100%"></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Greg Newell<br> <b>Sent:</b> Friday, November 30, 2012 11:14 AM<br> <b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a><br> <b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha</span></div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">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. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings;">L</span><span style="color: black;"></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">Greg</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailEndCompose"></a><span style="color: black;"> </span></div> <div> <div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(181, 196, 223) currentColor currentColor; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;"> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Delwin D Fandrich<br> <b>Sent:</b> Friday, November 30, 2012 10:58 AM<br> <b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a><br> <b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;">Yes, well, good luck with that….</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;">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!</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;">ddf</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">Delwin D Fandrich</span><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">Piano Design & Fabrication</span><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">6939 Foothill Court SW, </span><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">Olympia, Washington 98512 USA</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525</span><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">del@fandrichpiano.com </a>— <a href="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a></span><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div> <div style="margin-left: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Euphonious Thumpe<br> <b>Sent:</b> Friday, November 30, 2012 5:14 AM<br> <b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a><br> <b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha</span></div> <div style="margin-left: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"> </div> <table style="width: 6.5in; margin-left: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="624"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0in;" vAlign="top"> <div> <div class="MsoNormal">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.)<br> <br> Thumpe</div> </div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div id="_origMsg_"> <div> <div style="margin-left: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div> <div> <div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"> <div style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"><hr align="center" SIZE="1" width="100%"></span></div> </div> <div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">From: </span></b><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;">Delwin D Fandrich <<a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">del@fandrichpiano.com</a>>; <br> <b>To: </b><<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>>; <br> <b>Subject: </b>Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha <br> <b>Sent: </b>Fri, Nov 30, 2012 5:55:38 AM </span></div> <table style="margin-left: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0in;" vAlign="top"> <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="MsoNormal">Wool is hygroscopic. It does absorb and desorb moisture and the tone<br> characteristic changes as a result. Normally the change is slight and<br> gradual. This may not be so slight. <br> <br> I'd certainly let time do what it will before attempting to chemically<br> harden hammers that already have the reputation of being granite in<br> disguise. And then, if they do not harden up enough to cause permanent<br> hearing damage after they have dried out I'd sand off a layer before pouring<br> on the chemicals. And, as Ron suggested, I'd try ironing them a bit.<br> <br> ddf<br> <br> Delwin D Fandrich<br> Piano Design & Fabrication<br> 6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA<br> Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525<br> <a>del@fandrichpiano.com</a> — <a>ddfandrich@gmail.com</a><br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: <a>pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [mailto:<a>pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] On Behalf<br> Of <a>tnrwim@aol.com</a><br> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 8:30 PM<br> To: Pianotech<br> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha<br> <br> Thanks for the advice, so far. As a follow, I've that high humidity has an<br> effect on hammers. This piano sat in empty house for five years in Hilo, but<br> was moved to Oahu 2 weeks ago and is now in an air condition hall. <br> <br> Hilo is on the Windward side of the Big Island of Hawaii, where it rains A<br> LOT. The piano is only 6 years old and has never been used. It has had a<br> string cover and a damp chaser, so there no damage, and the hammers are<br> virtually brand new. <br> <br> Would the being exposed to a lot of humidity be the reason the hammers are<br> soft, and if I just wait 6 months they will brighten up by themselves?<br> <br> Wim<br> Sent from my iPhone<br> <br> On Nov 29, 2012, at 3:57 PM, <a>tnrwim@aol.com</a> wrote:<br> <br> > We usually have knock the edge off Yamaha hammers. But a church just got a<br> small grand where the killer octaves need a little boost.  What is the<br> recommended method for "juicing" up Yamaha hammers<br> > <br> > Wim<br> > <br> > Sent from my iPhone</div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div style="margin-left: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: ; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div> </font>