Hey Julia, One quick test is to pluck the string. Does it still sound dead? If so, no amount of messing with the hammer will fix the tone. Some suggest lowering the tension about a third and banging on the note. Bring it up to pitch and see if it helps. Some recommend adding a twist to the string in the direction of the winding. I've heard of people removing the string from the hitch pin and winding it around a coke bottle, then rolling the bottle up and down to loosen and remove the crud from between the windings. I've never tried the old method of removing the string and "whacking" it on the ground to bring it back. The "best" solution is to replace them; and rescale while you are there. Ron Koval Chicagoland When the bass hammers of a particular turn of the century upright are played they sound "tubby", a very "round" dull sound. Would these hammers be a candidate for hardening solution or is it the strings' quality? I think it is the hammers because the bass hammers have hardly any grooves and show little wear. Suggestions? Julia Gottchall, Reading, PA _________________________________________________________________ Stop worrying about overloading your inbox - get MSN Hotmail Extra Storage! http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-us&page=hotmail/es2&ST=1/go/onm00200362ave/direct/01/
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