advice on action/hammers

[David Love]

Use Steinway hammers put on by someone who is familiar with the specific 
voicing procedures (i.e. proper filing, use of lacquer as hardener etc.)for 
that type of hammer.  I have used this type of hammer on Mason Hamlins 
several times and the tone is as you describe.

David Love


>From: Larry E McFatter <mcfatter@csusb.edu>
>Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: advice on action/hammers
>Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 14:37:04 -0800
>
>I'm not a technician but a performing pianist who is very interested in
>great piano sound. I'm facing a decision about my own piano for which I
>need the advice of professionals who make these decisions on a regular
>basis. Eighteen months ago I bought from a rebuilder/restorer a Mason &
>Hamlin A made about 1918 that is used as my practice piano at home. At the
>time of purchase everything had been restored/refinished (new pin block,
>pins, shimmed and refinished soundboard, dampers, new strings, case
>refinished, etc.) except the action and hammers which are the original
>ones. The piano had apparently not been played much in its previous life 
>and,
>since the action and hammers were still in acceptable condition, the
>decision was made not to rebuild/replace them yet. I've given the piano a
>workout and listened to it very closely since its purchase. I'm now
>satisfied that the restoration work that has been done to date has been
>good and that the piano has inherently a fine, broad tonal spectrum, but
>the tone is being compromised by the old hammers and action. So I'm asking
>for your advice on which action and hammer combination (i.e. Renner action
>+ Abel hammers, a Japanese action + Renner hammers, etc.) you believe will
>give me the tonal results that I want to achieve and superb control, even
>at very soft dynamics. Because the piano is used in my home I need somewhat
>different tonal characteristics than I might need for a piano in a recital
>hall or playing with an orchestra. I'm very concerned to avoid that
>shallow, over-bright, strident tone that tends to plague the asian pianos
>(especially) after only a few years of regular use. It's been suggested to
>me that I avoid high tension hammers in favor of ones that may initially
>sound a bit mushy but will age more gracefully. True? Here's what I want:
>
>1. a dark, rich tone at soft dynamics (like dark chocolate?);
>2. a warm, round tone at medium dynamics (milk chocolate?);
>3. an edge of bell-like brightness (but not over-bright or strident) at 
>loud
>dynamics (milk chocolate swirled with tart raspberry?).
>
>Any thoughts? (about the piano, I mean; I already have plenty of 
>chocolate).
>
>Larry McFatter
>Music Department
>California State University, San Bernardino
>mcfatter@csusb.edu
>
>

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