[CAUT] Hammers

[David Love]

One other thing, the "boom" you are looking for may or may not be available in the way you are thinking on this belly.  The design tends to discourage that type of tonal response and going to a harder hammer can simply result in a more percussive attack but not necessarily get you the "boom" that you want.  You might also try adding some weight to the hammers that are on there using binder clips.  See if a more massive but still soft hammer produces something more to your liking.  You can deal with the touchweight issue later.  Adding weight that way is also easily reversible.   

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com


-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Love
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 7:51 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Hammers

All the different responses you are getting illustrates the problem with asking for suggestions on a subject like this. Everyone has an opinion based on their own taste, pianos they have worked with and experience.  But outcomes can vary considerably depending on the belly and the goal.  On this piano with a Del Fandrich board my experience suggests that you should be careful about going to a hammer which is too hard, it may not be a good match.  You have to sample and see which hammer works the best in terms of your goal.  In order of soft to hard the list goes roughly like this:

Ronsen Bacon
NY S&S
Ronsen Wurzen
Ronsen Weickert
Pianotek Abel Select
Renner Blue Points
Wally's Abel Naturals
Renner Premium Blue
Hamburg Renner

Both Ronsen Bacon and NY S&S will need to be hardened as will Ronsen Wurzen and Weickert probably on this piano--at least at the upper end.  If the Ronsen Bacon that's on there has not been hardened I would do that first before I started switching hammers.  You'll have to determine the strength of the solution to use.  I have my own formula but your lacquer may vary from mine.  Let it harden for at least a week or two before you render final judgment.  


David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com






Hi Folks,

I am considering options for hammers on a S&S D. I want a softer hammer with some heft. Right now the piano has Ronsen Bacons and a Del Fandrich board. Right now there’s just not enough “boom” at the point of attack but otherwise nice color and projection and decent sustain. I’m looking at these hammers:

NY S&S
Pianotek Abel Select
Wally’s Abel Naturals
Ronsen Wurzen 
Ronsen Weickert

I have experience with S&S, Wurzen and Abel Select, but not the others. Which would you choose, and why?

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Yeah, Jim I know you like the new Renner Weikert Blue Points, but I never have liked working with Renner Blues so I didn’t include the Blue Points on my list to consider. You can try to convince me though!   ;-)


-- Alan McCoy, RPT
Eastern Washington University
amccoy at ewu.edu