<html> <body> Don, Dale, et al, I think Don's point in re: the 3 and 9 O'clock positions is important.  Beginning at those points, as opposed to ones higher up, seems to allow the most organic (for lack of a better word) development of the tone without getting too much too fast...rather like driving a car in which the torque curve of the engine is well matched to the rest of the drive line...good, solid acceleration from rest throughout to full-throttle.  This as opposed to situation with a flat or dead spot off idle, then a head-snapping mid-range, which is then followed by a top end with no "legs" - no reserve left.  We've all heard the tonal equivalent of that in any number of poorly-voiced instruments. Best. Horace At 09:33 AM 11/10/2004, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Dale, In order to get the most classes out of a set of hammers, I only put 2 in the piano.  One in the center, one at note 64 I think. I used 3 needles, long enough to reach the molding (6-7mm), 3 or 4 jabs on each side of the hammer as previously described. It is not as effective in the treble, but still works when the right location is found. Don Mannino At 06:46 AM 11/10/2004, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>    Hi Don   What part of the scale were your samples placed in & how many sticks on average was achieving the desired effect?.   This sounds like the description of battery voicing Andre had outlined.. I'll try this.     Thanks      Dale <dl> <dd>I put some samples of the Ronsen hammers with Wurzen felt on a Kawai piano <dd>for use in a voicing seminar in North Carolina a couple of weeks back.  I <dd>think those who heard them in the class would agree that they sounded very <dd>nice. <dd>The initial tone was a little too soft, so I first shaped them a little to <dd>get a more uniform shape (they were a little lopsided) and fit the strike <dd>point to the strings.  They still needed a little more, so I filed them <dd>with 1,000 grit sandpaper a little up and over the strike point.  This <dd>helped a little more.  Finally I deep needled them at the widest point - 9 <dd>and 3 O'clock, with the needles pointing up towards the tip of the molding, <dd>but not passing over the molding.  This increased the power quite a bit, <dd>and the class agreed that they didn't need any more. <dd>Don Mannino RPT </dl> </blockquote></blockquote></body> </html>