<html> Richard, Call Yamaha with the serial number, and they'll quote you a price on them if it is a US model.  They are probably available either pre-mounted on the shanks or just drilled and ready to install. Yamaha makes their own hammers, as far as I know. Don Mannino RPT At 12:09 AM 9/7/2003 -0500, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Wondering if Yamah offers replacement hammers for their pianos.   This is assuming Yamaha makes their own hammers and they don't who does?      ----rm ----- Original Message ----- From: <Erwinspiano@aol.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2003 5:59 PM Subject: Re: now what?, (hammer choices) > In a message dated 9/5/2003 4:21:46 PM Pacific Daylight Time, A440A@aol.com > writes: > > > > > > > Greetings, > >  So, my C-3 customer that is getting new hammers sez he certainly doesn't > > want them to sound like new STeinway hammers, which to him are too soft and > > round sounding,  and he doesn't want the glassy sound that comes from the > > studio > > C-7's with use and lacquer all over them them.   His knuckles and shank > > pinning > > are too good to throw away, so the stock Yamaha hammers are not the ticket. > > > >   I am trying to make a decision between Piano-tek's Imadagawa,(which I have > > > > used quite a bit of in the past), and their Abel "Standard" series.  He > > records this piano in his business, and he wants it to be brilliant without > > being > > harsh from the get-go.  I know I can needle the Imadagawa's  to virtually > > anywhere I need them, but am intrigued by the Abel.  The only sets I have > > heard > > that I liked had been played a lot.  Do they start out needing a fair amount > > of > > use to develop? > >   Anybody wanna make a suggestion between these two? > > Thanks, > > > > Ed Foote RPT > >        Ed >      OK.  I guess I'll be the contrairian and say that I have more people > requesting the removal of the Abels in favor of the sound you say your client > wants. The complaint is too loud too harsh.  Often it's true the voicing hasn't > been worked on enough but also the Abels I've worked with take sooo much > needling (pulverizing) what could possibly be left of the reselience we say is > important. Dunno >  Though I'm keenly aware of anti -lacquering sentiments among many The Isaac > hammer and Ronsen hammers at times even though they might require light > solutions produce a sound that is voicing stable and neeling is accomplished easily. > Any tech following a properly treated set of these hammers should not have > trouble needling as needed and nor shoulf  the lacquer be detected unless it was > of course over done. I personally find clients attracted to this kind of a > sound which is clear  and strong but not glassy or too round. If you guys are > getting this kind of sound with some version of Abels I don't know about please > enlighten me.!! >      In spite of that comment I've worked on sets that even after the > pulverizing sounded very good (Mason & Hamlin A) ,however that set required > substantial & relatively deep needling across the top of the hammer thru out the tenor & >  treble but not as much in the bass. >    As Del & others have intimated previuosly, the stiffness of hammer > required to produce a specific kind of sound in any  piano really depends on the > soundboard stiffness and other factors. >      I currently have a 6 ft 6 inch grand in house that has Abels that have > been needled nicely  and  great deal by a previous tech.but the client is > unhappy with the brightness  & is considering changing them. Another extenuating > factor is that the hammers were made very light (on purpose-geometry)(note 52 is > 5.3 grams) resulting in the problem of not enough mass to push the string in > a piano this large with a sound board this stiff. They sound fairly good > (especially in the bass) but the client has a bright room and these particular > hammers have more than one problem (toostiff too light)creating an unpleasant > sound in the treble. The other piano in shop is a Conover 77 & has either a set is > of Abels or Imdagawa. The hammers are relatively new and incredibly difficult > to get needles in the high tenor & treble. The sound is strident. I can't > detect any lacquer/plastic solutions. Again the client is displeased with the > sound after the new hammers were installed. I will try to needle them but with > felt that stiff its often not productive nor fun. >    Hey Ed I'm sure you probably don't need my advice but this is my two cents > worth. Let us know how what you decide on in  the C-3 and how it comes out. >    Dale > _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: <a href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives" eudora="autourl">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a> </blockquote></html>