<html> <body> Julia, You don't mention how old the piano is or how deep the string grooves might be. Have you tried steaming the hammers? Or even doing what's called "sugar coating" them? Just curious. Avery At 02:36 PM 7/16/04, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Greetings,              We were told in piano tech school NOT to needle hammers right on the crown. Upon arriving home from 9 months at tech school, I was Jones-ing to refurbish my old upright and needle the hammers in my Yamaha U3, as the tone was harsh on both pianos.               Well, I first did the old upright's hammers. Needled the "shoulders of the hammers careful to not go near the crowns. Put the action back in the piano and I heard hardly no change. That horrible harsh, explosive, glassy sound prevailed. So, I decided to slightly needle just a few of the offenders alittle closer to the crown. No difference...tried alittle further into the crowns....To make a long story short, I didn't alleviate the harsh tone till I deeply pounded the needle right in the crowns of the things! What gives?                I got the results I wanted, namely a more mellow tone, but only when I did exactly what I was told NOT to do. Julia Gottchall, Reading, PA </blockquote></body> </html>