Hi David I have extensive expierience with the Ronsen product and I consider it an excellent choice for many pianos. The ALL NEW RONSEN hammer differs from other hmmrs. and from whatever problems you may have had with them in the past you can forget it. This is a different animal than some of the older vareitys. ALSO they do not employ the use of steam to get the hammers to the right stiffness( MANY OF YOU WOULD USE THE WORD HARDNESS). But instead are using dense felt and pressure to achieve the required density . Indeed some hammers are truly hard. Ronsen supplies two kinds of felt and two different moldings .The first one that I generally use is the sapele Moldings (which as much as a gram lighter than the birch or maple) .The felt I usually use is what they call the German felt and I believe Ray said it was an Able felt. This felt happen to press up stiffer than the other felt and is a good choice for many pianos including steinways. This felt comes in two weights ,a 14lb. and a 16 lb. felt For steinways I almost always use the 14llb. felt so that I can get to the original hmmr. weights that the stwy action needs for its touch weight needs These hammers really resemble the size shape and density of the original old stwy hmmr..On B ,s an D's I use the 16lb.and usually in conjunction with a shank with a 17 mm. knuckle to center pin spread which carries more weight of course. The 16 s are also a bigger taller looking hammer and of course will weigh a bit more . As many know there can be a substantial weight difference from one set of wooden moldings to the next and I consider a gram scale an essential piece of the action rebuilding arsenal as I know you do David.The tone of these hammers are quite good from the get go an none of the initial clanging sounds (like shattering glass)of hot pressed HARD hmmrs.On stwys I usually use a light solution of plexiglass and acetone on the bass section,Soaking the mono choards and then reduce ing volumne and saturation and thickness of solution as I head toword the break .In the tenor treble ,up to note 40 two to four drops of thin mix of same right on the crown increases presence and break in speed, Hmmmm break in fluid. Some light needle work generally required from note 40 on up , but the needles go in so easy even in the bass where juice was applied you can't tell there has been any solution applied. The other felt is a Bacon felt comp. product which is a springy more elastic felt and similar to steinway factory felt or at least the source is the same. This felt usually makes a bigger looking hammer but is less dense felt and is a good choice for the client looking for a darker rounder tone .I.E. Baldwin Mason . This hmmr. requires more juice if you tring to bring them up far but you can get there.In fairness to the product I don't have nearly the working time on these as I do the other but still consider it a choice I'd make for the right reasons. A 14 lb. felt is also availible and will weigh less but will still have the physical appearance of being larger than the 14 lb. german felt .It is important that you designate a felt choice when ordering (Duh. Dale) .Ordering from Ronsen is easy. There service is prompt .You can get any length molding you wish.They offer all the stanard prepping features for reasonable fees and the price is also attractive.I.E. a seto of saepele 14 lb. delivered un-prepped is right at $170.00 If pre shapping is not your strong suite have them do it or at least be prepared to file the bass a little as they are rounder than I like . It must be the shape of there press. One last word, there upright hammers I consider a labor saving device . I put them in and they usually require nothing.( yes we still do work on the occasional upright ,calif. preserved of course. Best Dale Erwin Call if I missed something
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