Voicing starts with hammer selection. So, how do the various hammer choices/manufacturers that serve the occasional installer of hammers compare? Does one hammer maker consistently produce hard hammers and another produce soft hammers and how do we know which is which? How do the raw physical size and weight affect voicing? Can a person place an order for "hard" hammers, for example? Are there manufacturers that make larger-sized hammers? There seems to be anecdotal information on these issues, but no universal published standards/comparisons.
Perhaps hammer making is a process so fraught with inconsistency, that it's impossible to have standard comparative guides. In that case, how is the field technician able to determine what kind of hammer comes out of the box? How is a technician able to compare with some assurance that the built-in voicing out of the box can be counted on?
How are hammer weight characteristics determined? I know that David Stanwood and others have their own scales, but is there a universal/common scale/set of measurements for weight and size and firmness?
How does a person know a hammer is "heavy" or "light?" right out of the box. Steinway has the current reputation for making heavy hammers. It used to make lighter hammers. Which is the better choice in today's market? I know that technicians can reduce weight via felt/molding reduction. But is this really a desirable thing?
Raw hammers have characteristics that affect voicing. It doesn't seem like much attention is given to that fact. More attention is given to mitigating hammer differences via chemical applications and needling. Of course final determinations have to be tailored to client wishes, as well as the physical environment of each instrument. But knowing what you're working with certainly helps in producing a predictable favorable result.
Richard West
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Richard West RPT
Oro Valley AZ
(402) 570-4409
440richard@gmail.com------------------------------