[CAUT] S&S Hammers and lacquer / an old S #287725

[David Love]

Perhaps I didn't word that very carefully.  Of course a change in hammer
will change the tone.  My point was that you won't be able to completely
mask the underlying tonal structure of the piano by simply changing the
hammer.  In other words, you won't convert a Yamaha to a Steinway by simply
putting a Steinway hammer on it.  If you could, we could all have that
Steinway sound for a lot less money.  The piano will still maintain many
characteristics of the Yamaha sound though through a slightly different
filter.   

With respect to soundboard response, there are some good examples of
soundboards that have survived well with good sustain and the like.
Unfortunately, there are also many that have not.  

To comment further on the difference in tone between a lacquered and
non-lacquered hammer, I think one of the main differences is the layered
structure of the hammer necessitated by the presence of lacquer.  With the
lacquered hammer you are forced to create a thin layer of needled felt over
the surface of the hammer in order to mitigate the tendency for the hammers
to ping excessively when the lacquer is present on the surface.  The
crystalline substance laying just below the surface is thus engaged only
when the hammer is compressed enough to get through the fluffy top layer.
This does create a sense of changing colors as the hammer is played at
different levels.  You can get a sense, especially in the treble, a sort of
crystalline sound beneath a soft veneer.  It's definitely a high maintenance
type of hammer since that top layer must be maintained carefully.
Unfortunately, the constant dressing of that top layer also shortens the
effect life of the felt at that level and it must be periodically removed
and the process started all over again until you get down to where the
lacquer is simply too dense to really deal with effectively.  In addition,
over time, the lacquer continues to harden and the flexibility of the hammer
on a deeper level is compromised and the tone at a forte level tends to get
too harsh.   The non lacquered hammer need not be put through the same
procedure because there is no lacquer noise factor to avoid.  The tops of
these hammers can be polished with very fine paper in order to get that
shine in the tone that lacquer provides without fear of an unwanted zing
resulting from an unaddressed lacquer crystal.  Those hammers tend to have a
more stable voicing and, treated well, a longer effective life.  

At least that's my take on it.

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Richard Brekne
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 12:47 AM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: [CAUT] S&S Hammers and lacquer / an old S #287725

On this general subject I'd like to report I just got finished with an 
old S.... actually one of the nicest sounding S instruments I have ever 
heard.  Absolutely delightful treble... and really I suppose I could say 
that from around F2 upwards... The lowest bass is a bit tubby... or 
however one chooses to describe that low bass sound Steinway gets.

The new hammers were evened so as to conform to a Stanwood top medium 
curve, and were German Renners Wurzen I felt.  They needled nicely and 
ended up with about 50-60 three needle 6-7 mm deep first needling jabs 
in the bass..  down to around 25 in the highest treble. 

Sustain time was quite astounding for this old Steinway...  Tunelab 
registered between 2.1 and 3.4 seconds on C8 !! (6 samples)  F7 3.1 to 
4.9 !  C7 had a high of 5.5,  F6 8.1, and C6 a whopping 11 seconds.  
Given the many discussions about the Steinway soundboard design... I 
really find myself lacking for a way of finding compatibility between 
this result... and the idea that these boards will by definition loose 
their ability to function well.   I might add that the sound was 
anything but thin and weak... it was full, round and very powerful.  I'd 
put it up against many very new pianos of larger size...

A recording of this instrument will be forth coming.

In anycase... back to the lacquer / non-lacquer bit.... I still have the 
old hammers and will see if there is anyone at the UiB who can 
assertain  whether lacquer had been used at any time.  Given its a 
Hamburg instrument... that may be doubtfull... and even if there is, the 
lacquer could have come from anywhere.   I also know of a early 30's B 
laying around town.... all original and laying hidden in a garage for 
about 60 years...

Cheers
RicB