Pianotech

Hello all,

I am replacing a set of hammers and shanks on a Bechstein E from 1970. The last time hammers were replaced by another technician, the hammers were much bigger than the originals, and there were clearance issues in the high treble. He decided to leave the original hammers in the top octave or so, so for more than a decade, our symphony has been using this piano with two different sets of hammers.

As a Renner Academy graduate, I am most comfortable working with Renner Blue Points, so that was what I was planning on using. However, I am concerned about having touchweight issues and clearance issues with these hammers as well.

In terms of the clearance, hammer 88 on the original hammer has a diameter of 9.5mm, but a new Renner Blue Point has a diameter of 17mm. However, the original hammers are raked, so it is possible that the last tech didn't rake his hammers, which was causing the clearance issue.

In terms of the weight issue, right now there is a jump in balance weight from about 50-54 g in notes 70-75 (Isaac hammers) to about 44-47g in notes 76-88 (original hammers). Although I can reweight the keys, I am concerned about the added inertia with the Blue Points. Would I be better off just ordering Bechstein hammers directly from Abel? What have others done with this model of piano?

Hello all,

I am replacing a set of hammers and shanks on a Bechstein E from 1970. The last time hammers were replaced by another technician, the hammers were much bigger than the originals, and there were clearance issues in the high treble. He decided to leave the original hammers in the top octave or so, so for more than a decade, our symphony has been using this piano with two different sets of hammers.

As a Renner Academy graduate, I am most comfortable working with Renner Blue Points, so that was what I was planning on using. However, I am concerned about having touchweight issues and clearance issues with these hammers as well.

In terms of the clearance, hammer 88 on the original hammer has a diameter of 9.5mm, but a new Renner Blue Point has a diameter of 17mm. However, the original hammers are raked, so it is possible that the last tech didn't rake his hammers, which was causing the clearance issue.

In terms of the weight issue, right now there is a jump in balance weight from about 50-54 g in notes 70-75 (Isaac hammers) to about 44-47g in notes 76-88 (original hammers). Although I can reweight the keys, I am concerned about the added inertia with the Blue Points. Would I be better off just ordering Bechstein hammers directly from Abel? What have others done with this model of piano?

Hello all,

I am replacing a set of hammers and shanks on a Bechstein E from 1970. The last time hammers were replaced by another technician, the hammers were much bigger than the originals, and there were clearance issues in the high treble. He decided to leave the original hammers in the top octave or so, so for more than a decade, our symphony has been using this piano with two different sets of hammers.

As a Renner Academy graduate, I am most comfortable working with Renner Blue Points, so that was what I was planning on using. However, I am concerned about having touchweight issues and clearance issues with these hammers as well.

In terms of the clearance, hammer 88 on the original hammer has a diameter of 9.5mm, but a new Renner Blue Point has a diameter of 17mm. However, the original hammers are raked, so it is possible that the last tech didn't rake his hammers, which was causing the clearance issue.

In terms of the weight issue, right now there is a jump in balance weight from about 50-54 g in notes 70-75 (Isaac hammers) to about 44-47g in notes 76-88 (original hammers). Although I can reweight the keys, I am concerned about the added inertia with the Blue Points. Would I be better off just ordering Bechstein hammers directly from Abel? What have others done with this model of piano?

Hi Peter,

I've had hammer sets from both Renner and Brooks where they were kind enough to narrow down the hammer widths for me. It seems to be something that's fairly easy for them to do if you provide the weight goals that you want for that set of hammers.

If I may make a suggestion, I would also feed the action measurements into an action geometry program. It seems to me like it's likely to be a higher action ratio than normal. You might find that you need to change something (knuckle size or capstan placement come to mind) in order to get the new hammers to work, regardless of how narrow and light they can get them for you.

Best of luck!

Hello all,

I am replacing a set of hammers and shanks on a Bechstein E from 1970. The last time hammers were replaced by another technician, the hammers were much bigger than the originals, and there were clearance issues in the high treble. He decided to leave the original hammers in the top octave or so, so for more than a decade, our symphony has been using this piano with two different sets of hammers.

As a Renner Academy graduate, I am most comfortable working with Renner Blue Points, so that was what I was planning on using. However, I am concerned about having touchweight issues and clearance issues with these hammers as well.

In terms of the clearance, hammer 88 on the original hammer has a diameter of 9.5mm, but a new Renner Blue Point has a diameter of 17mm. However, the original hammers are raked, so it is possible that the last tech didn't rake his hammers, which was causing the clearance issue.

In terms of the weight issue, right now there is a jump in balance weight from about 50-54 g in notes 70-75 (Isaac hammers) to about 44-47g in notes 76-88 (original hammers). Although I can reweight the keys, I am concerned about the added inertia with the Blue Points. Would I be better off just ordering Bechstein hammers directly from Abel? What have others done with this model of piano?

Given the exchange rate you will face when getting parts shipped from the US to Canada, plus the Canadian import charges, I you may want to look into getting the hammers from Europe.

Especially now that Bechstein is making selling its own hammers, which seem to be fantastic, on the open market.  Bechstein can probably deliver exactly what your piano needs.

Hi Peter,

I've had hammer sets from both Renner and Brooks where they were kind enough to narrow down the hammer widths for me. It seems to be something that's fairly easy for them to do if you provide the weight goals that you want for that set of hammers.

If I may make a suggestion, I would also feed the action measurements into an action geometry program. It seems to me like it's likely to be a higher action ratio than normal. You might find that you need to change something (knuckle size or capstan placement come to mind) in order to get the new hammers to work, regardless of how narrow and light they can get them for you.

Best of luck!

Hello all,

I am replacing a set of hammers and shanks on a Bechstein E from 1970. The last time hammers were replaced by another technician, the hammers were much bigger than the originals, and there were clearance issues in the high treble. He decided to leave the original hammers in the top octave or so, so for more than a decade, our symphony has been using this piano with two different sets of hammers.

As a Renner Academy graduate, I am most comfortable working with Renner Blue Points, so that was what I was planning on using. However, I am concerned about having touchweight issues and clearance issues with these hammers as well.

In terms of the clearance, hammer 88 on the original hammer has a diameter of 9.5mm, but a new Renner Blue Point has a diameter of 17mm. However, the original hammers are raked, so it is possible that the last tech didn't rake his hammers, which was causing the clearance issue.

In terms of the weight issue, right now there is a jump in balance weight from about 50-54 g in notes 70-75 (Isaac hammers) to about 44-47g in notes 76-88 (original hammers). Although I can reweight the keys, I am concerned about the added inertia with the Blue Points. Would I be better off just ordering Bechstein hammers directly from Abel? What have others done with this model of piano?

Given the exchange rate you will face when getting parts shipped from the US to Canada, plus the Canadian import charges, I you may want to look into getting the hammers from Europe.

Especially now that Bechstein is making selling its own hammers, which seem to be fantastic, on the open market.  Bechstein can probably deliver exactly what your piano needs.

Hi Peter,

I've had hammer sets from both Renner and Brooks where they were kind enough to narrow down the hammer widths for me. It seems to be something that's fairly easy for them to do if you provide the weight goals that you want for that set of hammers.

If I may make a suggestion, I would also feed the action measurements into an action geometry program. It seems to me like it's likely to be a higher action ratio than normal. You might find that you need to change something (knuckle size or capstan placement come to mind) in order to get the new hammers to work, regardless of how narrow and light they can get them for you.

Best of luck!

Hello all,

I am replacing a set of hammers and shanks on a Bechstein E from 1970. The last time hammers were replaced by another technician, the hammers were much bigger than the originals, and there were clearance issues in the high treble. He decided to leave the original hammers in the top octave or so, so for more than a decade, our symphony has been using this piano with two different sets of hammers.

As a Renner Academy graduate, I am most comfortable working with Renner Blue Points, so that was what I was planning on using. However, I am concerned about having touchweight issues and clearance issues with these hammers as well.

In terms of the clearance, hammer 88 on the original hammer has a diameter of 9.5mm, but a new Renner Blue Point has a diameter of 17mm. However, the original hammers are raked, so it is possible that the last tech didn't rake his hammers, which was causing the clearance issue.

In terms of the weight issue, right now there is a jump in balance weight from about 50-54 g in notes 70-75 (Isaac hammers) to about 44-47g in notes 76-88 (original hammers). Although I can reweight the keys, I am concerned about the added inertia with the Blue Points. Would I be better off just ordering Bechstein hammers directly from Abel? What have others done with this model of piano?

Given the exchange rate you will face when getting parts shipped from the US to Canada, plus the Canadian import charges, I you may want to look into getting the hammers from Europe.

Especially now that Bechstein is making selling its own hammers, which seem to be fantastic, on the open market.  Bechstein can probably deliver exactly what your piano needs.

Hi Peter,

I've had hammer sets from both Renner and Brooks where they were kind enough to narrow down the hammer widths for me. It seems to be something that's fairly easy for them to do if you provide the weight goals that you want for that set of hammers.

If I may make a suggestion, I would also feed the action measurements into an action geometry program. It seems to me like it's likely to be a higher action ratio than normal. You might find that you need to change something (knuckle size or capstan placement come to mind) in order to get the new hammers to work, regardless of how narrow and light they can get them for you.

Best of luck!

Hello all,

I am replacing a set of hammers and shanks on a Bechstein E from 1970. The last time hammers were replaced by another technician, the hammers were much bigger than the originals, and there were clearance issues in the high treble. He decided to leave the original hammers in the top octave or so, so for more than a decade, our symphony has been using this piano with two different sets of hammers.

As a Renner Academy graduate, I am most comfortable working with Renner Blue Points, so that was what I was planning on using. However, I am concerned about having touchweight issues and clearance issues with these hammers as well.

In terms of the clearance, hammer 88 on the original hammer has a diameter of 9.5mm, but a new Renner Blue Point has a diameter of 17mm. However, the original hammers are raked, so it is possible that the last tech didn't rake his hammers, which was causing the clearance issue.

In terms of the weight issue, right now there is a jump in balance weight from about 50-54 g in notes 70-75 (Isaac hammers) to about 44-47g in notes 76-88 (original hammers). Although I can reweight the keys, I am concerned about the added inertia with the Blue Points. Would I be better off just ordering Bechstein hammers directly from Abel? What have others done with this model of piano?

Given the exchange rate you will face when getting parts shipped from the US to Canada, plus the Canadian import charges, I you may want to look into getting the hammers from Europe.

Especially now that Bechstein is making selling its own hammers, which seem to be fantastic, on the open market.  Bechstein can probably deliver exactly what your piano needs.

Hi Peter,

I've had hammer sets from both Renner and Brooks where they were kind enough to narrow down the hammer widths for me. It seems to be something that's fairly easy for them to do if you provide the weight goals that you want for that set of hammers.

If I may make a suggestion, I would also feed the action measurements into an action geometry program. It seems to me like it's likely to be a higher action ratio than normal. You might find that you need to change something (knuckle size or capstan placement come to mind) in order to get the new hammers to work, regardless of how narrow and light they can get them for you.

Best of luck!

Hello all,

I am replacing a set of hammers and shanks on a Bechstein E from 1970. The last time hammers were replaced by another technician, the hammers were much bigger than the originals, and there were clearance issues in the high treble. He decided to leave the original hammers in the top octave or so, so for more than a decade, our symphony has been using this piano with two different sets of hammers.

As a Renner Academy graduate, I am most comfortable working with Renner Blue Points, so that was what I was planning on using. However, I am concerned about having touchweight issues and clearance issues with these hammers as well.

In terms of the clearance, hammer 88 on the original hammer has a diameter of 9.5mm, but a new Renner Blue Point has a diameter of 17mm. However, the original hammers are raked, so it is possible that the last tech didn't rake his hammers, which was causing the clearance issue.

In terms of the weight issue, right now there is a jump in balance weight from about 50-54 g in notes 70-75 (Isaac hammers) to about 44-47g in notes 76-88 (original hammers). Although I can reweight the keys, I am concerned about the added inertia with the Blue Points. Would I be better off just ordering Bechstein hammers directly from Abel? What have others done with this model of piano?