How does a hammer produce tone? I keep pondering this question since the answer, or my perception of it determines the specifications for the felt I will order for the Isaac hammers. I think piano tone is produced by the hammer in two stages. The impact - the hammer striking the strings - and the push off - the hammer lifting the string when the felt spring reforms the hammer which has been deformed by the impact. It goes without saying that the felt spring or, how springy the felt really is depends on how the hammer is made and how the felt is put together. I think the functioning of hammers like felt compression springs is essential for two reasons: first, musicians and composers want as much musical color in the tone of instruments as they can get. Second, a spring is the only device that will push against the force applied with an equal force. The harder the impact - the more the hammer is deformed and the greater the push off energy. Also the opposite; the lower the impact - the less the hammer deformation and the weaker the push off. The third and very practical reason for makeing the hammers to function like felt compression springs is their much lower dependence on voicing, both at installation and during the hammer's lifespan. A hammer will tend to revert to function in the way it was first made, regardless on how much it is voiced. To repeat: please get in touch with me with any questions or ideas you may have concerning hammers, I'll be happy to answer. Ari Isaac. anything to do with hammers, hammers, piano hammers I mean.
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