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<DIV>In a message dated 5/6/2004 12:03:19 AM Pacific Standard Time, Richard.=
Brekne@grieg.uib.no writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue =
2px solid"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=3><EM><U>Of course this requires =
a hammer that has tension available to release. <BR>Lacquered hammers do not=
.</U></EM></FONT> Or if they ever did the lacquer inhibits <BR>that.... so o=
nce you go down that lacquer road you've forever removed <BR>this quality fr=
om the hammer. I would suspect that's a big part of why <BR>many voice=
rs view lacquer with such disdain. Taking that quality from <BR>the hammer i=
s tantamount to wrecking the hammer in these folks minds. <BR>Just lik=
e stabbing deep down the throat through the crown will kill the <BR>hammer.&=
nbsp; I tend to agree really.<BR><BR>Cheers<BR>RicB</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV=
>
<DIV> <FONT size=3>Hey Ric, David, Andre ,Ho=
race & all</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Finally a piano post that needs more discussion.<=
/FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Ric I will once again say that this term (tension=
) above that's underlined is misleading. The Ronsen hammers are incredi=
bly tensioned & will still be with some lacquer added. The felt is stret=
ched around the molding unlike any thing I've ever seen. It is a real spring=
. If you have the opportunity take one and slice it open from the bottom or =
top & it just blooms open like a flower immediately. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Other less stiff hammers like I=
saacs & Steinway do this less. So to be clear I'm taking issue with the =
word tension in how your using it. The hammer you are referring to is a grea=
t hammer but its very compacted & densified. I know when your need=
ling it that it behaves as if there is some kind of power/tension that=
's waiting to be unleashed by the needle but I think your just redistributin=
g the springiness of very compacted felt to less compacted felt &a=
mp; thus more springiness & not true tension. The quality of the Wu=
rzen felt gives you way more latitude with this style of hammer.</FONT></DIV=
>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The other factor I may be ignorant of (There are =
so many) is that Andre is probably getting them to control the densification=
which would lead to more true tension & springiness. The problem with m=
aking hammers is that in order to get the bass hammers to be stiff eno=
ugh for an adequate tone right out of the box is that the whole felt sheet i=
n the press needs to be packed adequately to harden the bass but =
the top end then often becomes too compacted. Making hammers is a true =
& difficult art form. Any one making good hammers should be saluted &=
; supported for there efforts.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Dale</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"=
>Erwins Pianos Restorations <BR>4721 Parker Rd.<BR>Modesto, Ca 95357<BR>209-=
577-8397<BR>Rebuilt Steinway , Mason &Hamlin Sales<BR>www.Erwinspiano.co=
m</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>