Just a few months ago, I applied an alcohol/water solution to my Yamaha U1 hammers because I had the same problem - couldn't get even a single needle to penetrate the hammers - they just kept breaking off. My U1 is only about 5 years old but the hammers were like concrete. My intention was to soften up the hammers so I could needle them but after applying the solution, the bright/harsh tone was drastically brought down and so I decided not to needle them. I would assume that the needles would be easier to insert once the hammers have been soaked with this alcohol/water solution (and allowed to dry overnight). Before I did this, I was constantly playing with the soft pedal trying to coax a softer/warmer sound from the instrument. I really love the tone change after using the solution. Be careful however as it will bring a drastic change. You will be able to play softer and get a much warmer tone but it will be at the expense of being able to get a ff or triple ff out of the instrument. For me, personally, it was a trade-off that was worth it. It's been about 6-8 weeks since I did this and the tone has brightened up a bit but it still has a much warmer pleasing tone than before. I should mention that after I soaked the hammers and they dried, I shaped the hammers, fine strip-sanded them with 300 grit emory cloth, and finally ironed the hammers to a very smooth polish. There is also someone on this list that recommends steaming the hammers. Seems to me that this would have similar effect in that it expands the fibers within the hammer. The only reason I didn't try steaming was that, for me, it was much easier to simply use the alcohol/water solution from a eye-dropper. Corte Swearingen Chicago Erwinspiano@aol.c om To: pianotech@ptg.org Sent by: cc: pianotech-bounces Subject: Re: Yamaha hammers @ptg.org 11/06/2003 09:42 AM Please respond to Pianotech In a message dated 11/6/2003 6:04:04 AM Pacific Standard Time, A440A@aol.com writes: > The hammers are so hard that if you begin at the upper shoulder, the > tension in them will tear them apart after a while. > Regards, > Ed Foote RPT Hi Ed And Yamaha builds these hammers this way because...............? For all my debt of professional gratitude due Yamaha & for all there ingenius wonderful pianos I can't figure this & have never heard an explanation. Soundboard that vibrate freely DO NOT require hammers O stone. Still don't get it in Modesto.--Dale
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