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Well, I pull staples and have never noticed a problem. Nor has doing so
ever effected tone in any big way.
<p>From what I have heard through the years it seems that perhaps in some
climates where conditions can vary in the extreme, the staple has some
function in holding the felt to the wood core. But other then this nothing
I have ever heard leads me to believe there is any reason to fear pulling
them out.
<p>That being said, they do weigh a bit.. which translates into touch weight.
That might actually be desirable, or it might not be... depends on your
situation.
<p>I used to pull staples way back when just because I thought they were
a pain in the patootey for reshaping hammers. Now the only reason I remove
them is for weight concerns.
<p>I pulled out a set on a Hamburg "C" just last spring without a
worry. I noticed no real change in voicing. But then this piano is about
15 years old and had a lot of use, and voicing sessions.
<br>
<br>
<p>David Love wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><style></style>
<font size=-1>While in Reno I had
a conversation with two established representatives of well known hammer
manufacturer's regarding the function of the staple. both agreed
that it was of little use for keeping the felt attached to the core once
the glue dried. Beyond that, however, I was given two bits
if information in total opposition. One argued that the staple was
necessary for maintaining tension in the hammer and that pulling the stable
would destroy the tone, the other argued that the staple serves no
purpose, really, and, in fact, pulling the staple would release some tension
in the lower part of the hammer accomplishing to some degree what prevoicing
in the low shoulder is designed to do. He went on to say that many
concert voicers automatically pulled the staple when setting up a new set
of hammers for precisely that reason. Can anyone comment on
this apparent disagreement.</font> <font size=-1>David Love</font> </blockquote>
<p>--
<br>Richard Brekne
<br>RPT, N.P.T.F.
<br>Bergen, Norway
<br><A HREF="mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no">mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no</A>
<br>
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