Piano Hammer Replacement Singapore

What Piano Hammers Do

Piano hammers are the felt-covered wooden components that strike the strings when you press a key. Each hammer is shaped from compressed wool felt — dense at the core, slightly softer on the surface — and this felt density is what gives each piano its tonal character. A harder, denser felt produces a brighter, more cutting tone. A softer felt produces a warmer, more mellow sound.

Because hammers make direct physical contact with the strings thousands of times over their lifespan, they gradually wear. The felt compresses and develops grooves at the string contact points; the wooden shank can crack or detach; and the pivot flange at the base of the shank can loosen. Each of these problems affects both tone and the mechanical reliability of the key.

When Hammer Replacement Is Needed

• Deep grooves in the hammer felt: when the string has cut a groove deeper than about 3–4mm into the felt, the contact surface is uneven and voicing alone cannot restore a full, rich tone
• Broken hammer shank: if the wooden shank carrying the hammer has snapped, the note will produce no sound or a very faint one
• Hammers that don't return: a loose flange or broken spring can cause the hammer to stay in contact with the string after striking, muting the note
• Harsh or tinny tone across many notes: when the felt has hardened uniformly throughout the keyboard, replacement followed by voicing delivers a more lasting improvement than voicing alone

Hammer Felt vs Voicing

Piano voicing adjusts the existing felt without replacing it — softening it by needling, or hardening it with chemical treatment. Voicing is appropriate when hammers are in good physical condition but the tone is slightly too bright or too dull. When hammer felt is deeply grooved or physically degraded, replacement gives a more durable result. After new hammers are fitted, an initial voicing pass ensures they are adjusted to your room and playing preference.

The Replacement Process

For individual hammer replacement, the affected hammer is removed, the new hammer fitted to the existing shank (or a new shank installed if the original is damaged), and the key is regulated to ensure correct hammer height and travel. For a full set replacement, the entire action assembly is typically removed, all hammers replaced, and a thorough regulation follows.

After hammer replacement, the piano will need:

• Regulation: to ensure all new hammers sit at the correct distance from the strings and travel evenly
• Initial voicing: new hammers arrive from the factory at a standard hardness; voicing adjusts them to suit your room and preference
• Tuning: always included after any significant action or hammer work

We source genuine factory hammers or quality replacements matched to your piano's brand and register. All brands serviced including Yamaha, Kawai, Steinway, Pearl River, Samick, and others.