Steinway Hammers by Renner vs Renner Hammers

brdwyguy

I play my piano at 1hr everyday, the last time my tech came to do some regulating & action work, esp. on the very top notes, he said it's getting more and more difficult to do anything with the top notes because the felt is worn down almost to the end.
So we discussed that I may probably need to get new Hammers/Shanks/Flanges in the future (4 - 5 yrs).

I have been looking at many high-end hammers and have begun to wonder:

What is the technical difference between a Steinway Hammer made by Renner vs Renner Blue Point Hammers.

Also: C. Bechstein used to have their hammers made by Renner but now they make their own.
Was there a great change in the tone of Bechstein's after they made this switch?

I am learning towards getting a full set of Renner but just wondered about these other questions.

My tech and I have been trying to figure out what kind/brand of hammers were put into my Steinway A 2 when it was rebuilt, I have attached a picture when we changed the original 1912 Wippen's to new Steinway Wippen's.

anyone have any idea about all these questions, i would be greatly appreciative.
brdwyguy
JDM

JohnCW

As you haven't received a response to you questions, might I suggest you re-post it on the Piano Technicians forum on Piano World. That way it will most likely be read by people like Ed Foote being one of the most knowledgeable and respected experts on Steinway grands you are likely to find who willingly shares his knowledge.

brdwyguy

I had posted there about 6 months ago, I had a lot of comments about Steinway Hammers and other Hammers but no one answered my original question.
The Technical difference between a Steinway Hammer made by Renner and a Renner Blue Point Hammer.

no one seems to either want to answer that question. . . or no one really knows.
brdwyguy

danno858

brdwyguy here is a link to their site where they explain the differences in the hammers

https://rennerusa.com/renner-piano-hammerheads/

It looks like the blue point hammers are specifically made using weickert felt ( which I believe was the original Steinway hammers in 1911/1912) Ronson also makes weickert felt hammers in the same tradition

Seeker

Steinway will have provided Renner specifics on types and density of felt used to make the hammers, how the hammers are shaped (are they ROUND or do they come to a point or are just pear shaped...) as well as the wood to be used and how the tails are to be shaped. The idea is that the Steinway by Renner hammers SHOULD work well with Steinway

Blue Points are extremely dense in the shoulders, and they are HARD, and should be shaped to a point. With a LOT of shoulder needling according to procedures published by Renner, they can be wonderful, and they have a unique sound that is DIFFERENT from Steinway spec hammers. (I've had both on my Steinert Steinway B Clone, and that's been my experience).

My current hammers are Hamburg Steinway spec by Renner USA from their shop here in (I think it was) Denver. They are my favorite so far. We did order them in the heavy weight, and we had them pre-voiced. They are holding up very well, and to my ears, they sound great.

danno858

I’m having my 1911 Steinway A2 rebuilt. We’re going to use Ronson Weickert Felt hammers, JD Grandt Bass strings and International Gold plain wire. Haven’t started yet. Will ship the piano to the rebuilder in late November or early December