<HTML>In a message dated 1/11/02 3:07:18 PM Central Standard Time, doepke@fwi.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Dear List, I have a client who wishes me to soften up the tone his Baldwin Hamilton. Without needling the hammers, is there a preferred softening liquid/solution that can be applied to the hammers?  And where is it applied? He seemed a little leery of applying anything to the hammers to soften the tome.  He was only aware of needling.  I have searched the archives for "hammer softeners" and "juicing hammers" and did not locate anything. Do any of you have a preferred formula for softening hammers? Thank You Brian Doepke doepke@fwi.com </BLOCKQUOTE> I have used Downey Fabric Softener with some success. It would be best to put it sparingly on the shoulders, and let it soak it before playing. I put the liquid on the crown of the hammers in the upper treble of a Kawai grand in one of the practice rooms, and almost over did it. Not only did it really knock down the brightness of the hammers, now there is a little rust on the strings, which, of course has transferred to the hammers. I have done this, however, on a Baldwin grand in which we put a Pianodisc, and it bought the volume down quite a bit. On this one I put the fabric softener on the shoulders. Wim </HTML>