<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; cha= rset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff= f"> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 6/20/2004 9:16:28 PM Pacific Standard Time, Erwinspi= ano writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue = 2px solid"> <DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM><U><FONT face=Arial>Richard Adkins writes</FONT></U></EM>= </STRONG></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue = 2px solid"><FONT face=Arial>Please tell us what your approach was with the= se hammers...<BR>did you use chemical hardeners...? or just needle in the Ge= rman<BR>hammer fashion? Combination.<BR><BR>The last Ronsons I tried were "g= erman felt" they said, but I was not<BR>thrilled, and maybe I didn't prep th= em properly?...I still have 'em....<BR>Maybe they needed more lacquer than I= put in 'em...or no lacquer?....<BR>Or different needling technique. Some of= my colleagues are also<BR>recommending them, but I'm wary. Genuine Steinway= hammers seemed<BR>to put out more sound, but I know how to work with them. = For<BR>the price, the Ronsons look so attractive.<BR><BR>thanks in advance.<= BR>Richard Adkins.<BR>Coe College Music Dept.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>  <FONT size=3>  HI Richard </FONT>= </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>  Did you hang the <STRONG><U>Ronsens<= /U></STRONG> & if yes, in what? I've installed & voic= ed many dozens of sets of the <STRONG>German</STRONG> felt with very little = effort & very little juice or needling. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>     The <STRONG>Wurzen= </STRONG> is a stiffer felt that voices similarly & may require a f= ew judicious needle strokes in the higher shoulders & deep in octaves 4 = & 5 They may also need extremely thin solutions of Lacquer primarily in = the bass. I recommend a thoro medium filing for the bass to get a bette= r initial shape & light filing in the rest to remove the cup. Start with= 80 grit in the bass move to 240 & finish with 400. In the tenor & t= reble start with 240 & finish with 400. A nice clean top will give you m= ore instant music. Do this in a gang clamp before hanging. 15 Minutes max.&n= bsp;Also you may Iron lightly but it's mostly for cosmetics & a bit= more attack if you want it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>     My Advice is do no= thing in the way of prevoicing as per Renner/Abel, it is not needed. As Tom = Servinsky reported the sound is warm & clear without the usual ping,ting= of other harder pressed hammers. I call it power without noise or excessive= trash sounds. If you're use dot that I say try it you'll probably like it.<= /FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>   Dale Erwin</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><FONT face= =Arial><FONT size=3>Erwins Pianos Restorations </FONT><BR>4721 Parker Rd= .<BR>Modesto, Ca 95357<BR>209-577-8397<BR>Rebuilt Steinway , Mason &Haml= in Sales<BR>www.Erwinspiano.com</FONT></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>