Yamaha Hammers

[R Moody]

Wondering if Yamah offers replacement hammers for their pianos.   This is
assuming Yamaha makes their own hammers and they don't who does?
     ----rm


----- Original Message -----
From: <Erwinspiano@aol.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2003 5:59 PM
Subject: Re: now what?, (hammer choices)


> In a message dated 9/5/2003 4:21:46 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
A440A@aol.com
> writes:
>
> >
> >
> > Greetings,
> >  So, my C-3 customer that is getting new hammers sez he certainly
doesn't
> > want them to sound like new STeinway hammers, which to him are too soft
and
> > round sounding,  and he doesn't want the glassy sound that comes from
the
> > studio
> > C-7's with use and lacquer all over them them.   His knuckles and shank
> > pinning
> > are too good to throw away, so the stock Yamaha hammers are not the
ticket.
> >
> >   I am trying to make a decision between Piano-tek's Imadagawa,(which I
have
> >
> > used quite a bit of in the past), and their Abel "Standard" series.  He
> > records this piano in his business, and he wants it to be brilliant
without
> > being
> > harsh from the get-go.  I know I can needle the Imadagawa's  to
virtually
> > anywhere I need them, but am intrigued by the Abel.  The only sets I
have
> > heard
> > that I liked had been played a lot.  Do they start out needing a fair
amount
> > of
> > use to develop?
> >   Anybody wanna make a suggestion between these two?
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Ed Foote RPT
> >        Ed
>      OK.  I guess I'll be the contrairian and say that I have more people
> requesting the removal of the Abels in favor of the sound you say your
client
> wants. The complaint is too loud too harsh.  Often it's true the voicing
hasn't
> been worked on enough but also the Abels I've worked with take sooo much
> needling (pulverizing) what could possibly be left of the reselience we
say is
> important. Dunno
>  Though I'm keenly aware of anti -lacquering sentiments among many The
Isaac
> hammer and Ronsen hammers at times even though they might require light
> solutions produce a sound that is voicing stable and neeling is
accomplished easily.
> Any tech following a properly treated set of these hammers should not have
> trouble needling as needed and nor shoulf  the lacquer be detected unless
it was
> of course over done. I personally find clients attracted to this kind of a
> sound which is clear  and strong but not glassy or too round. If you guys
are
> getting this kind of sound with some version of Abels I don't know about
please
> enlighten me.!!
>      In spite of that comment I've worked on sets that even after the
> pulverizing sounded very good (Mason & Hamlin A) ,however that set
required
> substantial & relatively deep needling across the top of the hammer thru
out the tenor &
>  treble but not as much in the bass.
>    As Del & others have intimated previuosly, the stiffness of hammer
> required to produce a specific kind of sound in any  piano really depends
on the
> soundboard stiffness and other factors.
>      I currently have a 6 ft 6 inch grand in house that has Abels that
have
> been needled nicely  and  great deal by a previous tech.but the client is
> unhappy with the brightness  & is considering changing them. Another
extenuating
> factor is that the hammers were made very light (on purpose-geometry)(note
52 is
> 5.3 grams) resulting in the problem of not enough mass to push the string
in
> a piano this large with a sound board this stiff. They sound fairly good
> (especially in the bass) but the client has a bright room and these
particular
> hammers have more than one problem (toostiff too light)creating an
unpleasant
> sound in the treble. The other piano in shop is a Conover 77 & has either
a set is
> of Abels or Imdagawa. The hammers are relatively new and incredibly
difficult
> to get needles in the high tenor & treble. The sound is strident. I can't
> detect any lacquer/plastic solutions. Again the client is displeased with
the
> sound after the new hammers were installed. I will try to needle them but
with
> felt that stiff its often not productive nor fun.
>    Hey Ed I'm sure you probably don't need my advice but this is my two
cents
> worth. Let us know how what you decide on in  the C-3 and how it comes
out.
>    Dale
>