<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> <FONT size=3> Hi Joe & list </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> I got to thinking about t=
he subject of hammer density after this discussion & others privately &a=
mp; What I hear people saying is I don't wan to needle till my elbow falls o=
ff including me is, & others who say I want a hammer I don't have t=
o lacquer. Lacquers just wrong or whatever. We want a hammer that sound=
s great in every piano every time. NO work, pouf, put em on & they let y=
ou be the hero. Right!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> SO <STRONG><U>why </U></STRONG>can't we get these =
kind of hammers? Well, some times we can or at least get close. It dep=
ends. The size of the soundboard & it's given mechanical impedance, stri=
ng scale, crown & bearing all contribute to determine the amount of stif=
fness required in the hammer to create the optimal kind of tone for that pia=
no. I hear Ric saying, define optimal. Any way so all the hammer makers can =
do is come close to some sort of middle road of hammer felt density that giv=
es a medium to work with that isn't giving us fits to get the desired tonal =
result we all want.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> SO for those who like the Ronsen, Isaac, Stwy ish =
hammers we think why don't they make them denser or why don't the Renner,yam=
aha-ish hammer makers ease up on the pressure & heat so less needling is=
required. I think the answer is because they don't want to. Each has there =
reason other than economic & it's philosophical.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> However we don't care about that, we want them to=
care about what we want. I think Andre has the right idea & he has gone=
to the Renner maker& asked for a type of hammer persistently until he's=
getting it'. <STRONG>Bravo Andre.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Now I understand we can't buy your ha=
mmer Andre because of Renners deal with Renner USA & Lloyd Meyer so=
the American Techs who want a hero hammer need to ask=
Renner USA & Abel or whoever for a hammer which is made with =
less pressure & heat & let the felt breathe & s=
pring more. Then we can needle a little or juice a little without detr=
iment to the integrity of the felt & the felt will be a more preserved &=
amp; cooperative like felt spring not a cotton ball or a roc=
k. For those of us who liek the product the way iot is then do nothing.</FON=
T></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> IN fairness we must aske the non lacquer te=
chs to Call on Isaac, Stwy & Ronsen to use more pressure & heat so w=
e have the same situation as the renner ish type felt. For those of us=
who like the product as is then also do nothing</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Each company can still make there preferred style=
of hammer but have new line of <STRONG><EM>slightly denser or slightly not =
as dense hammers</EM></STRONG> & everyone can be a <EM><STRONG>hero</STR=
ONG></EM> & the customer & the tone qualiuty of music is the benific=
iary As well as our lungs & elbows!!!!!!!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG><U> If this idea has any merit please let =
me know. I'm willing to ask</U></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><U><FONT size=3> Dale Erwin</FONT></U></STRONG></=
DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue =
2px solid">
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Seriously I'm right there with you.Thanks f=
or the Rant. Makes no sense to me></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3> Dale</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue =
2px solid"><FONT face=Arial>Dale,<BR>If you'd have copied my whole quote, =
you'd know I said: " Some Techs<BR>use....." I don't personally see the need=
for that sort of hammer<BR>destruction. If a hammer needs the "30 jabs, dee=
ply into the 3 to 7 o'clock<BR>area, for prevoicing, those hammers are crap =
and I won't use them. If<BR>someone has put a set of these "BBs" on a piano =
and I have to deal with<BR>them, it's STEAM/ALCOHOL-WATER OR GARBAGE CAN! Th=
e sooner we start throwing<BR>those rock hard hammers back at the manufactur=
ers, or better yet, quit<BR>buying them, the sooner they'll wake up and smel=
l the futility of their<BR>economics. The only damned reason they make these=
is because they can make<BR>multiple sets in a very short time and make a h=
uge profit. Let us all<BR>support Hammer Makers like Ron Negron, (Ronsen Ham=
mers) and tell the rest to<BR>put there hammers where it's the darkest! (I w=
oke up on the wrong side of<BR>the bed this morning!<G>) End of Rant!<=
BR>Regards,<BR>Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon)<BR>Captain, Tool Police<BR>Squares=
Are I</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"=
>Erwins Pianos Restorations <BR>4721 Parker Rd.<BR>Modesto, Ca 95357<BR>209-=
577-8397<BR>Rebuilt Steinway , Mason &Hamlin Sales<BR>www.Erwinspiano.co=
m</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>