Oblique hammers

[Isaac OLEG]

Stephane,

hammers are usually glued with aluittle slant at the breaks, in order to
have a better travel.

When filed they will present that angle you noticed. (because the filing is
straight) I understand that this inequal contact on the strings gives a lot
of zingling sound and high partials, but this is not usually desired in
piano tone.

But I've seen that on a piano with rusty strings, lot of capo noises, the
tech have pulled a little out of the bridge pins the few remaining pure
sounding strings, in order to have the same kind of tone everywhere.

There is another parameter that goes in the picture : the string termination
on the bridge is not in the same plane that the soundboard, particlularely
where the bridge is really in a diagonal direction. The plane of the string
can well not be level at these places (mostly near the break again ), so we
have to shape the hammers accordainly.

Regards.

Isaac OLEG

> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]De la part
> de Stéphane Collin
> Envoyé : mercredi 29 mai 2002 15:11
> À : pianotech@ptg.org
> Objet : Oblique hammers
>
>
> Hi List.
>
> I recently serviced a small Pleyel 5'2" piano from the '30.  It
> had the most charming sound I ever heard (a real miracle).  Up
> 'till the last trebble notes were singing with unusual beautiful
> tone, long lasting and very dynamic.
> It featured something I have never seen before : from the tenor
> to the trebble, all hammers were filed a little oblique, so on a
> light blow they hit only one string, but not too much, so on a
> hard one, they hit all three strings.  The result was incredible.
>  I suppose on a hard blow, the hammers stay less in contact with
> the third string of the unisson, letting more overtones develop,
> while the longer lasting contact with the first string of the
> unison gives full power and sustain to the fundamental of the
> note, the blend of both making this unusual beautiful expressive sound.
>
> Has anybody seen this before?
>
> I couldn't wait and try this on one of my pianos, and with happy
> result : unbelievable pure and sweet pianos, yet very colourful
> and powerful fortes.  It doesn't work on the low tenors, neither
> on the high trebble, but elsewhere, waw !
> I'm just afraid for premature wear of the hammers and maybe some
> trouble at the flange center pin, carrying so an unusual torque.
> Also, I believe if someone notice this on one of my pianos, he
> will believe I am an outrageous piano destructor.
>
> Any comment welcome.
>
> Stéphane Collin
> (Brussels, Belgium)
>
>
>