<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:ns0="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1>Allow me to add something here.  <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>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.  <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>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.    <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><div>David Love<o:p></o:p>www.davidlovepianos.com<o:p></o:p></div><o:p> </o:p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Tom Rhea, Jr. Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 8:33 AM To: gnewell@ameritech.net; pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha<o:p></o:p></div></div><o:p> </o:p>Hi Del,<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>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.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Thanks in advance,<o:p></o:p>Tom<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>PS: If you prefer, I can be reached privately at the e-mail address below.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>T<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><div>Rhea Piano Service<o:p></o:p>Tom Rhea, Jr., Technician<o:p></o:p>(757) 373-0284<o:p></o:p><ns0:PersonName w:insAuthor=" " w:insDate="2012-11-30T11:28:00Z" w:endInsAuthor=" " w:endInsDate="2012-11-30T11:28:00Z"><a href="mailto:rheapiano@cox.net">rheapiano@cox.net</a><ins cite="mailto:%20" datetime="2012-11-30T11:28"></ns0:PersonName></ins><o:p></o:p><ns0:PersonName w:insAuthor=" " w:insDate="2012-11-30T11:28:00Z" w:endInsAuthor=" " w:endInsDate="2012-11-30T11:28:00Z"><a href="http://www.rheapiano.com">www.rheapiano.com</a><ins cite="mailto:%20" datetime="2012-11-30T11:28"></ns0:PersonName></ins><o:p></o:p><ns0:PersonName w:insAuthor=" " w:insDate="2012-11-30T11:28:00Z" w:endInsAuthor=" " w:endInsDate="2012-11-30T11:28:00Z"><ins cite="mailto:%20" datetime="2012-11-30T11:28"></ns0:PersonName></ins> <o:p></o:p></div><div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></div>From: <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>] On Behalf Of Greg Newell Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 11:14 AM To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha<o:p></o:p></div><o:p> </o:p>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. L<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Greg<o:p></o:p><a name="_MailEndCompose"></a><o:p> </o:p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>From: <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>] On Behalf Of Delwin D Fandrich Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 10:58 AM To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha<o:p></o:p></div></div><o:p> </o:p>Yes, well, good luck with that….<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>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!<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>ddf<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Delwin D Fandrich<o:p></o:p>Piano Design & Fabrication<o:p></o:p>6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA<o:p></o:p>Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525<o:p></o:p><a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">del@fandrichpiano.com </a>— <a href="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>From: <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>] On Behalf Of Euphonious Thumpe Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 5:14 AM To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=624 style='width:6.5in;margin-left:.5in'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div>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<o:p></o:p></div></td></tr></table><div id="_origMsg_"><div><o:p> </o:p><div><div style='margin-left:.5in'><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><hr size=1 width="100%" align=center></div></div>From: Delwin D Fandrich <<a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">del@fandrichpiano.com</a>>; To: <<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>>; Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha Sent: Fri, Nov 30, 2012 5:55:38 AM <o:p></o:p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='margin-left:.5in'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>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 — Cell  360.388.6525 <a href="javascript:return">del@fandrichpiano.com</a> — <a href="javascript:return">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a> -----Original Message----- From: <a href="javascript:return">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [mailto:<a href="javascript:return">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] On Behalf Of <a href="javascript:return">tnrwim@aol.com</a> 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, <a href="javascript:return">tnrwim@aol.com</a> 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<o:p></o:p></td></tr></table><o:p> </o:p></div></div></div></div></body></html>