Dean Randall wrote:

> I suspect, since I have determined that all centers are free and all
> related friction eliminated, that the new treble hammers weigh more
> than did the tired old originals, which lifted fairly evenly.  The
> lift-rail assembly and its associated pivots and flanges are secure
> and tightly screwed together.

Dean,  Heavy hammers were my first impression too.  Although the rail
may have been bent by the hammer installer.  Check that out.

Most modern hammers _are_ too heavy.  Not only does this add to the
touch weight but the repetition springs need to be stronger.  This
causes the escapement to have more resistance.  Whether playing by hand
or roll, the end of the keystroke should not be such that it requires
extra effort.  This fatigues fingers and pneumatics.

Now that you have new hammers, the factory key-leading is wrong.  That
was set for the original hammers.  For optimum performance this needs
to be addressed along with lightening the hammers.  A heavy hammer does
not rebound off the string fast enough and in so doing dampens the
higher partials, less sound.

Find a tech who weighs hammers individually.  Once plotted on a graph
one will see the erratic weight fluctuation from note to note.  By
graduating the weight so as to produce a smooth curve within a desired
weight range many voicing problems disappear.

More info can be found here:

    http://www.tiac.net/users/stanwood/first.htm

Still in the rain-soaked Northeast,

Jon Page
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. (jpage@capecod.net)