[CAUT] The "new" S&S Hammers.

[Scott E. Thile]

I'd always considered this a two-part application process involving Vodka to
the hammer, and 20 year old single malt scotch to the tongue. Apparently the
second part acts as a sort of catalyst. I have a little more research to do
in order to determine the exact formula, but there is no question that the
second part of the application process improves the results.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On 
> Behalf Of Otto Keyes
> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 7:09 PM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] The "new" S&S Hammers.
> 
> 
> For every 4 drops on a hammer, place 6 large drops on the 
> tongue.  By the time you get to the end, you won't much care 
> what the complainer has to say.
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Susan Kline <skline at peak.org>
> Date: Thursday, September 13, 2007 2:38 pm
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] The "new" S&S Hammers.
> To: College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
> 
> > I certainly bow to Ed Foote's expertise, but before doing this, I
> > wouldtry pulling the action into my lap, and putting four drops of 
> > vodka directly
> > into the string grooves of each hammer. Four drops, not more, 
> > tapering to
> > less in the high treble. Leave it 1/2 hour and see what you 
> get. Don't
> > get the alcohol into the shoulders, confine it to the string groove
> > area.
> > 
> > The point being, this is so extremely easy to try, and may 
> make a big 
> > difference with almost no time or money invested. You could 
> try a few 
> > notes to see what you are getting, and then do the rest if 
> you liked 
> > it. I haven't seen the new Steinway hammers, but this technique has 
> > worked well for me with a wide variety of bright pianos, grand and 
> > upright, fancy and plain.
> > 
> > Susan Kline
> > 
> > At 11:17 AM 9/13/2007, you wrote:
> > >You can reduce some of the problem by soaking the hammers in
> > Acetone for an
> > >hour. Just use a squeeze bottle and start at the top.  After they
> > >have been wet
> > >for an hour or so, go back over the crowns with fresh acetone.  It 
> > will move
> > >some of the hardener out away from the contact area.
> > >   Leave it alone overnight, with say, a fan blowing on it, and
> > you may find
> > >that there is more body and fullness than you would expect.  It
> > will
> > >certainly
> > >have less noisy attack.
> > >Regards,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Ed Foote RPT
> > 
> >