Felt quality

[David Love]

Yes and no.  I think it's slightly more complicated.  A Steinway hammer
which is so soft that it requires a full immersion is different than a
slightly soft hammer that may need reinforcement only on the
non-string-contact part of the hammer.  I'm not sure that it's that easy to
tell the difference or that in the later case the sound is qualitatively
different from a non-lacquered hammer--at least at the outset.  Of course, a
hammer which is softer to begin with will have a different sound than one
that is harder to begin with (especially between molding and crown) but
since the harder hammer is often needled down and the softer hammer requires
some playing time to develop properly, the ultimate difference may be
negligible and the lacquer, at least when applied to the shoulder area only,
may not provide a substantial difference.  At least that's my experience.
Over time may be another story as the lacquer continues to harden and the
shoulders lose some flexibility.  That's my main complaint.  Of course, when
you do need to harden the hammer under or onto the strike point I believe
that does change the character and even more so in terms of how the hammer
ages.  

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Richard Brekne
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 12:12 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Felt quality

JD / Dale

And here you have the real reason for doping hammers.  Its a matter of 
taste... purely subjective in nature and if done well will produce very 
nice results that are somewhat different in end resulting sound. 

There used to be a lot of folks trying to justify doping hammers by 
asserting that you could get the same sound as needled hammers.  I am 
glad I dont hear this kind of thing anymore myself, because it really 
isnt true to begin with, and secondly... who should need such a 
justification to begin with ? Steinway NY states outright that they dont 
get the sound they want without using soft hammers built up with lacquer.

Dale and I have had many a talk on this subject and tho we have 
different preferences... I'm know for a fact he gets a very nice sound 
out of his approach.

In the end... regardless of the strong opinions any of us hold... piano 
voice and response is a very subjective thing that has nothing at all to 
do with what the instrument was designed to do... what level of 
loudness/harshness  or softeness/mellowness is achieved.  One persons 
noise is anothers heavenly harp.

Cheers
RicB