On 3/14/97, "Thomas A. Sheehan" <aquinas@nyct.net> rote: <<I replaced the original hammers with a set of pre-hung Yamaha hammers, with shanks and flanges attached. They are Yamaha DC7 hammers, but were made prior to the newer Yamaha sound (kinder, gentler, _softer_ hammer).>> This sounds like a situation where, in ordering the hams you might have wanted to give the SN of a newer C7 (with that kinder, gentler, _softer_ sound) instead of the actual SN of the older piano. Certainly this is devious, but I don't think it would particularly bother Yamaha for their database to pick up that a one or two year old CF7 was having its hammers changed unusually early. (When in fact we know that the newer style hammers was being installed on the older piano.) I see nothing wrong with this step. It's literally an upgrade from a style of hammer which was too hard to the style of hammer which replaced it because it sounded better. By ordering using a newer SN instead of the original, you're sending them the message that hammers of the syle of that era simply don't sound good, and aren't an appropiriate choice for someone looking for a good sox und in a critical situation. I'd say it's a message they need to hear. <<Any comments or advice from others who have been on this particular path with Yamaha hammers would be most appreciated!>> Steam heet, baby! One of my earliest experiences with the electric tea kettle was on the Yam DC7 which I mentioned in that discussion on damper noise in the 5/95 PTJ. The same ugly sound which you talk about. Steam took care of 90% of the adjustment in felt matt, and the remainder was all done at the crown , through the strings. (My caligraphy tool is now 8.5" of 3/32 braising rod fashioned into a mute wire handle.) Successful? The recording studios owner (a pianist of sorts) loved the sound so much that he took the piano home to his living room, and the studio had to buy another DC7. Risks? Your ears have to keep pace with the speed at which steam can change things. As was said during the original pianotech thread leading to the PTJ Forum digest "Alternative Voicing Techniques", those us us who can use this technique succesfully will be called in to replace the hammers for those who don't. (Personally, I thought the Forum should have been titled, "Techniques Which Work"....sorry, Steve....) "Yuh need...(dup-dup-Snat-Snat) STEEEM Heat, yuh need......." Bill Ballard RPT NH Chapter "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes time and annoys the pig." Sign on the wall of a college voice teacher's studio.
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