Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Best brand of hammers & bass string duplicators

My church recently purchased a Cable baby grand (~ 5'2") that is circa 1930's. They have requested me to restore the piano. What is the best brand of hammers I could use to install, and who does the best job of bass string duplication? I find a wide variety of prices for the bass strings, but quality is the concern. I was going to ask about the piano wire as well, but I found the previous article recently submitted, and that helped me out. Thanks.

Arledge bass strings and Ronson German Wurzen felt hammers

The hammers need to match the piano. Some pianos like a hadrder hammer. The weight of a renner blue makes it bad an a action that needs a light hammer.

Most of thr bass string guys are good. Arledge can rescale for you.

Also give Ari Isaac a try. I have his bass strings on a 1925 M&H RBB and they sound fantastic. He also makes excellent hammers.

www.isaacpiano.com

Another vote for Arledge Bass strings. Wally Brooks is the man to go to for solid, honest info about the hammers.

I know that Wally sells Abel Encores. Does he also sell Ronson? I only ask because most people tend not to recommend what they don't sell.

I have Wally Brook's Able Encores on my 1925 M&H RBB...nice hammers, they along with the Isaac Profundo Bass strings sound fantastic.

How do you determine the ideal weight for the new hammers? 15 lb., 17lb., etc. I usually just install 15 lb. on uprights, because it seems like a good medium.

What about Imadegawa hammers?

How do I get in touch with Wally Brooks?

I couldn't find anything on Ronson hammers.

Thanks so much for your help.

Wally Brooks 800 326 2440
Ronsen Piano 800-864-0233, ray@ronsen-hammer.com

A given sheet of felt weighs 15 pounds. The dimensions are not standardized, or at least not widely known. From this sheet, an undisclosed number of strips are cut. Each strip will yield one set of "15 pound" hammers.

Does this sound too vague? Well, here is some hard data: given the same felt manufacturer, it is safe to assume that a 17 pound set of hammers will be bigger and heavier than a 15 pound set.

So my recommended choices are:
Abel
Ronson
Isaac

How does everyone feel about Imadegawa hammers?

Everything is about sound and feel.

To that, one approach is to listen and feel the various hammers.

Imadegawa makes a good hammer. They are not my preference. But that is a subjective. Imadegawa's are a little cheaper. Personally, I'd pay more for a hammer. I find the voicing process easier.

I think a good starting place is to describe the sound you want.

Then describe the feel and consider the piano you are putting them on.

Your old American piano will most likely need a lighter hammer.

Imadegawa's may be on the heavy side.

I would recommend Ari Isaac.