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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"> <BR><BR>Anyway....my little =
story turned
out a little longer than expected.<BR>Hopefully it made any sense at
all?<BR><BR>Antares,<BR>The Netherlands<BR><BR>see my website at : <A
=
href="http://www.concertpianoservice.nl">www.concertpianoservice.nl</A>=
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<DIV>Yes, thank you very much for your observations, history, and =
explanation
of manufacturers' hammer shapes.</DIV>
<DIV> But most non-professional piano owners don't =
have the
funds to experiment with different types of hammers on their =
piano. And
once you've filed a set to one shape, it's almost impossible to file =
them
again to a different shape without taking off too much =
weight, or, in the
high treble, getting down to the wood. Piano =
owners have to
have the hammers that are on there filed, steamed, lacquered, =
ironed,
whatever. If they decide to replace hammers, a big nebulous =
uncertain area, for me anyway, is what kind to buy? Once =
you've
ordered a set, prepped them, hung them, pre-regulated, and =
put the
action back in the piano to finish regulating and voicing, you're =
already
out a couple hundred dollars and maybe 6 to 10 hours' =
labor! Too
late to say, "Woops, should've gotten Renners instead of Abels." (or =
whatever
other brand).</DIV>
<DIV> If I could buy a half-dozen or even =
a dozen
of all the various hammers, then I could try them out on people's =
pianos (just
replace a few in the middle, or maybe a couple in each section of the =
piano)
before deciding what to buy.</DIV>
<DIV> Yes, I've replaced many sets of hammers, but =
it's
always a gamble. Guess I've just lucked out so far. =
Admittedly,
most of the pianos were not "concert" instruments, and would have been =
improved no matter what brand was installed!</DIV>
<DIV> But how do you others decide which type to buy =
for
which pianos?</DIV>
<DIV> --David Nereson, RPT</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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