[pianotech] Hammers - was Brighter Yamaha

[David Love]

I don't agree with that at all.  While many hammers over do the pressing (or
really the heat application) either in the pre pressing stage or in the
final pressing stage, a higher density hammer is often called for and some
work will inevitably be involved to achieve the correct consistency for the
particular application.  You could as easily say that any hammer that you
have to add liquid plastic to is crap.  That would often be the case with
Ronsen hammers whether it is the entire set or a section of the set.  

 

These kinds of blanket statements are meaningless, biased and just
misinformed.  Hammer makers target various densities and consistencies based
on their own style and/or the requests of their users.  While there is much
that a hammer maker can do to ruin a piece of felt by the over application
of heat creating high density felt that lacks both tension and resilience,
pressing it to the point where some needle work is required doesn't
necessarily rise to that level.  

 

While I use Ronsen hammers frequently they are not right for every
application, and that's more than just Yamaha.  BTW, Yamaha is purchasing a
great deal of Weikert felt currently and is working very hard to achieve a
pressing that they feel is right for their pianos.  This hammer, which you
see certainly on the higher end models, is a very responsive hammer to
needles yet stable once you arrive.  Responsiveness to voicing combined with
stability is one sign of a well made hammer whether needle work is required
or not. 

 

I'm only discussing the hammer making stage here, btw, the felt making
process is where it all begins.  A great sheet of felt can be ruined by a
poor hammer maker and a not so decent sheet of felt can be made into a
decent set of hammers by a skilled hammer maker. 

 

Large and complicated topic but I think your comment is simply incorrect.   

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

If you have to "pre-voice" a set of hammers, then, in my book, they're crap!
Simple as that. 

 

Best,

Joe

 

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