<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2>I</FONT><FONT color=#808080 = size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT></DIV> <DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2>From: <</FONT><A href="mailto:A440A@AOL.COM"><FONT color=#808080 size=2>A440A@AOL.COM</FONT></A><FONT color=#808080 = size=2>></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2>To: <</FONT><A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"><FONT color=#808080 size=2>pianotech@ptg.org</FONT></A><FONT color=#808080 = size=2>></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2>Sent: July 24, 2002 3:50 = PM</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2>Subject: Re: Boston Hammers, was: = Interesting Piano Belly - Mehlin Grand</FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2>    </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2>I was making my remarks totally = irrespective of soundboard <BR>considerations.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2> <FONT = color=#000000><STRONG>I know, but that was the crux of the conversation.</STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2>   I have found my optimum = response from Steinway hammers to come from <BR>heavily lacquering the shoulders = and allowing the hardener to wick towards <BR>the center.  = </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG>I've found that it's only the part that = wicks under the crown that matters, so I just lay the hammer on its side and put it = there to begin with.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2>From this beginning, a second, much = ligher application of 4:1 lacquer allows me to subtly alter the response curve = to suit the demands of the user. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG>I agree with that = approach.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2>  <BR>This results in a = hammer that produces a mellow tone on pp playing, yet has a <BR>trace of high end to = give the notes some definition.  As force increases, the <BR>spectra = alters predictably, becoming more brilliant with increasing force, <BR>finally = reaching the point of distortion only when the absolute maximum force <BR>is applied.  In this condition, the hammer shows the widest possible = range of <BR>expression.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG>I think we're on the same page here.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2>It is often said that no two = Steinways sound alike, and I have come to <BR>believe that no two techs work on them the = same way!  Wonder it these are <BR>connected.   = <BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2><STRONG><FONT color=#000000>That, = in fact (for better or for worse), was exactly my = point.</FONT></STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2><STRONG><FONT color=#000000></FONT></STRONG></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#808080 size=2><STRONG><FONT color=#000000>David Love</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>