...But think of this, now you know how to tune, so the instrument is more than your musical instrument, it's also something you can fix. I think the tendency then is to hear it more form the standpoint of how in tune it is, how well voiced, etc., rather than how well it makes music. ...Also, tuning is not a particuarly enjoyable activity I think. BANG BANG BANG (to help set the string) - do you really want to do that to your ears? Not me. ...Chickering9's comment about wanting the best results is interesting, not sure what I would do in his situation. ...Again for me the danger of it crowding out the music to some degree is too great.
...the hardening of the hammers is a natural process to be done by playing the piano, no other way.
I've gone as far as restringing one and hanging a complete set of new hammers and shanks (including assembly, repinning and weighing out) on another.
Just curious, how long did it take to do the restringing? In terms if difficulty did you find that putting on new strings is about as difficult as tuning or much more complicated? I'm thinking just in terms of the restringing alone. Pulling out the action, etc. is a whole different matter. Did the sound greatly improve with new strings? Were you motivated by a do-it-yourself desire, or saving the few odd thousands of dollars that job would cost if done professionally? A little of both?