At 01:01 PM 29/04/96 -0600, Les Smith wrote: >Boy, Rory, it sounds like you're losing faith. You have to remember that >those Steinway upright hammers that you just installed are the finest made >today. However, unlike those produced by lesser manufacturers like Abel and >Renner, which sound great immediately with only a minimum of filing and >voicing, with the Steinway hammers you're buying POTENTIAL! Which means that While I appreciate his humour, I have to disagree with Les. With Steinway hammers you are buying both tradition and a hammer that will ultimately prove itself with your skill and not just a hammer that's easy to install. I have heard beautiful S&S B & D models with Abel and Renner hammers, but to me there always seemed to be something missing from the sound. Sure, they're "pleasant", but a tame piano is like a tame bear... fun to watch but you know it isn't dangerous so there isn't as much excitement there. Personally, I prefer to put a little more of myself into voicing a piano rather than having most of the work done for me already. IMO, that "something missing" from the sound is lacquer on soft hammers. Without it, a Steinway doesn't sound like a Steinway. Oh... and to Rory: EMail me and we can talk about those hammers. It appears that Les would rather belittle tradition than nuture it. John John Musselwhite, RPT Calgary, Alberta Canada musselj@cadvision.com
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