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<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>While
I tend to believe that concert instruments will benefit of hammers in =
the "high"
zone of the chart, I see that the flexing of the shank add velocity to =
the
hammer too. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Lighter hammers tend to produce a cleaner sound , but my =
impression,
because of the so large mass of every other part of the piano, is that =
they will
give less low partials, as noticed on the re felted hammers I meet
sometime.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>It is
just a choice in the wanted tone I guess.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>To
have the Glengould tone we will not need heavy hammers at all, but =
Arthur
Rubinstein would be sad of a too light one I guess.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Then
it is also a board question if I understand well, but I am still to hear =
the
boards made by certain builders. If CD are available I'd be
interested.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>S&S hammers are going on a lighter side actually, but =
I believe
these are economic reasons too unfortunately (predict wear in
10years).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>I'll
think of it</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>regards.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Isaac
O..</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=770065306-03102002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT =
face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Message d'origine-----<BR><B>De :</B>
pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]<B>De la =
part
de</B> David Love<BR><B>Envoyé :</B> jeudi 3 octobre 2002
07:26<BR><B>À :</B> Pianotech<BR><B>Objet :</B> To be or =
not to be:
a heavy hammer<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The question was put to me off list about why I =
reject
the idea that heavier hammers are necessary on a concert
instrument. I thought I would put my reply on list because =
I think
it is an interesting discussion. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The practice of putting heavier hammers on a =
concert
instrument comes from the idea that more mass will produce greater =
force and
therefore greater volume of tone. But mass is only part of the
equation. Force = mass x acceleration. While it is true =
that if
hammers of varying weights are accelerated equally, the one with more =
mass
will have more force, it is also true that a hammer of lower mass will =
be
accelerated to a higher velocity more easily. This is especially =
true in
a piano where lower mass in the hammer results in lower inertia =
at the
hammer end as well as in the key. Whether you have more mass and =
less
acceleration or more acceleration and less mass, as long as the mass =
of the
lighter hammer is not so much less that its deficiency cannot be =
compensated
for by increased acceleration, the potential force in the two examples =
can be
equal. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Because pianos are played from pppp to ffff, the =
only area
of concern is in the potential force at the highest end. You =
don't
benefit from a more massive hammer at the pppp level. In fact, =
since
there is a point below which soft playing cannot be reliably =
controlled, a
lighter hammer will give greater dynamic range at the bottom =
end. So the
only concern is at the top end. Assuming that the difference in =
hammer
weight can be compensated for by greater acceleration, the heavier =
hammer will
actually have a narrower dynamic range. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>As I already mentioned, a lighter hammer =
will
reap benefits in terms of lower inertia both due to lower hammer =
weight
and lower front weight of the keys. Lighter hammers will rebound =
off the
strings more quickly increasing sustain and improving clarity. =
Lighter
hammers will also allow you to maintain an action ratio that doesn't =
require
compromises of key dip, blow or both. One final concern =
with very
heavy hammers is the deflection of the shank at high level of
acceleration. Though I haven't looked into =
the research in any
great detail, I know that Renner has given this a lot of consideration =
in the
design of their shanks. If, in trying to accelerate a very =
heavy
hammer to high levels, the shank deflects to the point that the hammer =
is
striking fairly far from top dead center, how much force and tonal =
quality are
we losing because of this and, therefore, is there any
real benefit to trying to increase the upper range
limit anyway.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Those are my thoughts. Feel free to
comment.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><BR>David =
Love</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>