<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2523" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Hi Trent, Actually, I'm not smart enough to think up such a = gem.  But I am a good student (still in learning plenty after 22 1/2 years) and = willing to try new things. So, thank Bill Ballard, he's the one who suggested = the experiment to me, though later he admitted he had never actually done = it.  That guy!  :-) I wasn't experimenting for the sake = of piano science, only trying to find what would work on *this* = particular piano (Steinway D) with *this* set of hammers (big & heavy).  So, = I can't make any generalizations or proclaim any knowledge or wisdom on the = subject of hammer weight--only my taste in voicing.  I had three = concerns to rectify--carrying power, touchweight and musical flexibility for the pianist. With the too heavy hammers, the tone was muffled, though pleasant--especially compared to the previous granite = voicing.  Compared to the lighter hammers, the too heavy hammers did not carry = as well out into the hall.  The range of tone color was not as good with = the too heavy hammers as with the lighter ones. Actually, everything = was improved with the lighter hammers, initial attack through = decay.  Again, the tone color variety available was superb. I'm sorry I can't be = more scientific about it all, I was just searching for the best voice for = this piano in this setting.  I'm planning on writing about my = adventure and getting into more detail, later. My past experience with hammers = that were too light (and it was may fault they got that way! :-o), again = on a D, was there was not enough power or depth of tone.  Those Yamaha = clips to add weight saved me until something could be done.  = Whew! It's an easy experiment.  Just remember to number the hammers!  :-) Barbara Richmond, RPT ----- Original Message ----- = From: "Lesher, Trent J." <<A href="">tlesher@sachnoff.com</A>> To: "Barbara Richmond" <<A href="">piano57@flash.net</A>>; "Pianotech" <<A = href="">pianotech@ptg.org</A>> Sent: Friday, November 19, = 2004 1:42 PM Subject: Your practical hammer weight experiment (was RE: Good = book on voicing...?) Thanks Barbara.  This is a real = clear, practical nugget.  Can you explain a little more what it sounds = like when you hear "interference," going if possible from the attack, = through the initial stronger sound, to the sustain after the first second, = finally on through the decay? </DIV></BODY></HTML>