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<DIV><FONT size=3> Joe</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> This has been primarily my experience as we=
ll. I
do on occasion harden all the bass hammers up to the break but not lately. I=
find that a good filing to create a beautiful Steinway or Yamaha type s=
hape
thru out really focuses the tone & as David Love said taking off a =
some
felt in the treble also gives a lively more
focused sound.(paraprahsing) I have a chickering 5' 8" about to leave t=
he
building & shaping is all that it needed. Now if someone wanted a bright=
er
sound it is an easy 10 minute application of very dilute lacquer & aceto=
ne
on the top of the hammer. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> The top octave may get a soaking 3 or 5 to 1=
although I dislike saying A PARTICULAR solution dilutions i=
s
the one magic solution which is going to work on every piano because it
doesn't. I try a given solution on a hammer based on what is being hea=
rd
& then decide where to go based on results. Juicing, as is needling, is =
a
result driven process. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> On the tenor 3 to 6 drops=
applied right on the strike point as a break in solution will give a client =
who
desires more initial tonal bite what he needs. If it get to pingy to q=
uick
it can be washed down & into the hammer. Also a simple soaking/ was=
hing
with straight acetone has a tightening effect on the felt ,albeit
subtle.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Polishing the tops of the strike
point with fine sandpaper(600 to 1000) , level strings, &=
; an
accurate strike point as well as good solid tuning pounding the string=
s
into the tops goes along way to getting a very refined & rich musical to=
ne
with little work that leaves one with confidence that the inate
resilience of the felt is doing it's job.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Dale Erwin</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ric,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I rather suspect that the hammers you are=
working
with have been pressed/heated more than that that Ray does. I've found, (2=
sets---one my own--one another techs), that Ray's Hammers need a little
hardening on Notes #1, 2, 3 & maybe 4. Then, a similar hardening one a=
ll
notes from F7 up, (sometimes F# up). The rest, I've found to "Play In" ver=
y
quickly to a very sweet sound that needs a little smoothing only. FWIW, th=
at
is what I've experienced.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool
Police<BR>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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