Werzen/Ronsen hammer update

David M. Porritt dporritt@mail.smu.edu
Tue, 1 Jun 2004 07:33:52 -0500


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Tom:

I've hung Renner Blues almost exclusively for many years and have=
 never had any pull apart yet.  What do you mean by "pull=
 completely apart"? Where?  Inquiring minds want to know.

dave

__________________________________________
David M. Porritt, RPT
Meadows School of the Arts
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75275


----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
From: <Tompiano@aol.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Received: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 07:20:08 EDT
Subject: Re: Werzen/Ronsen hammer update

In a message dated 5/31/2004 11:09:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time,=
 Erwinspiano@aol.com writes:
Can you tell me how the Werzen hammer compares to Abel and Renner=
 blues ? Or have you used those before ? I am not familiar with=
 Werzen, what are their origins, pedigree and outlets ? Can you=
 get them prehung ?
Dan,
I personally like Abel hammers, as I have probably installed=
 about a 7 dozen on various instruments (from concert pianos to=
 small grands). I have been using them since Wally Brooks first=
 started selling them in the mid 1990's. They voice out quite=
 nicely and are an easy hammer to maintain on the stage. Voicing=
 stays rather predictably.
That being said, I have noticed that the hammers have been=
 showing up in the raw stage much harder then I remember in years=
 past. Now the hammers sound closer to the Yamaha hammers right=
 out of the box. So there's quite a bit of preparation needling=
 just to get one in the ballpark.
The Wurtzen felt is entirely a different animal all together. It=
 is used with minimal heat, says Ray Negron from Ronsen, and the=
 material is like nothing else we have had available for our=
 industry in sometime. This appears to be the same material the=
 older Steinways and better pianos used during the turn of the=
 century. And we can determine by all the older Steinways and=
 Mason & Hamlins, how nice of sound those hammers delivered even=
 after 80 years.
Ronsen will custom make your hammers with your pick of wood. I=
 have picked the soft maple because it's lighter and I don't want=
 to add any touch issues into the mix.
The last 2 sets put the touch weight in the mid -to high 40's=
 with a nice upweight.
Preparation: for a large piano I'm sure you are going to need=
 some juicing on both extremes of the keyboard. Normal hammer=
 filing, good hammer/string fit, and some light needling and you=
 are in business. 
Wait till you hear the expansive sound these hammer generate. You=
 won't believe it!
 
Renner Blues: I do not like these hammers nor can I recommend=
 them. I live in S. Florida and I have installed 10 sets in the=
 past. Each and every set has pulled completely apart within 5=
 years after installation. And that is with humidity control=
 devices installed.
Has anyone else had that experience with the Renner Blues?
 
Tom Servinsky


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