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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tom said: "<FONT face="Times New =
Roman" size=3>I
vote for
reshaping---<BR><BR>  =
;
Tom Driscoll</FONT><BR>Tom,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Stop and think about it, =
please.<G> The
"shape", (in/on normal hammers is dictated by the shape of the moulding, =
then
the underfelt, then the shape of the skived felt, (before pressing..AND =
finally,
by the shape of the culls that the hammers are pressed into. When we =
take a
sandpaper file and/or strip, we are actually "peeling" a consistant =
LAYER of
felt from the outer surface of the hammer. As we get closer to the core =
felt,
the shape does change, due to the distortion/compaction of the felt. =
Unless the
hammer has been laquered, (in excess, IMO), then any "shape" can be =
obtained,
although it may not be the ideal. Or, in some cases may actually be the =
optimum
"shape". This, I think, is the situation with current Steinway hammers. =
Unless
they have quit the practice of "Pre-Voicing" their hammers, the above =
still
applies. Their "Pre-voicing" is simply adding a whole lot of lacquer to =
the
hammer, BEFORE it ever gets glued on in an action. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I personally, refuse to use Steinway =
hammers for
this reason. It is extremely pretentious of them to assume that they =
know the
acoustical preference of the customer or the acoustical environment that =
the
piano exists in. In short, extremely cavalier attitude, =
IMHO.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is nice that they are now, =
(finally!), realizing
that their pressing system needs some "tweeking". If they would produce =
hammers
like the ones they made back in the early part of the 20th Century, I'd =
buy them
in a N.Y. second, but alas, they don't....so I don't.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Captain, Tool Police</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>