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<DIV><FONT size=2>Dale:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>If you have Ron's handout and can either email or =
fax it to me
I would be most appreciative. My phone/fax number is 415 661 =
3666.
You have my email.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>By the way. In a conversation I had with John =
Patton, he
suggested that he would probably not use a 3:1 solution in the lower =
part of the
piano. If you do, keep it well away from the strike
point. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Next time you use a set, try this on an experimental =
hammer in
the tenor if the set seems a bit soft. Turn the hammer on it side =
and put
a few drops (5-6) of lacquer at the top of the
moulding/underfelt letting it creep to within 1/8" from the strike
point. You can use 4:1 in the tenor and maybe 5:1 in the bass =
depending on
the set. Do it on both sides. It firms up the =
tone nicely by
just hardening the inner core of the hammer. If you then need a =
little
more bite at impact, use the 5:1 on the strikepoint. There's =
usually a
pronounced break around note 54 where the tone drops off suddenly. =
I try
to use 3:1 from there up and just put it right over the top.
Below that I'm trying to raise the level somewhat less so that the =
tone is
more balanced throughout the piano. If I need additional =
applications in
the upper range(rare that it will be needed in the tenor and bass), I go =
to a
slightly lighter solution for the second application. It seems to
penetrate better and the goal is still to get it to the core, not just =
building
up on top. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>My experience with lacquering these =
hammers tells me that
unless the lacquer gets under the strike point it doesn't do much. =
In the
tenor you can get it there directly by lacquering from the side and it =
reduces
the amount you have to saturate the hammer. In the upper range, =
because
there's less felt, if you do it from the side it quickly =
reaches the
strike point anyway. Although, in actual practice I make =
the
first pass lacquering </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>David</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>