best thing is to put in a new stem. If merely split or unglued, it may
be repaired. Sometimes a click is heard and it will seem impossible to
find the cause, the hammer and stem apparently perfect, but a close
examination will reveal a looseness in the stem somewhere.

In putting in a new shank, drill or chip out the old one, scrape the
holes out clean, take your measure carefully, and do not make the new
shank too tight, but large enough to fill the hole snugly. Apply glue
to the ends of the shank and also in the holes. Cedar is used in some
makes, but good maple is stronger, and is more generally used.

9. _Hammers_.--When too hard, soften with a felt pick. Do not raise
the felt up, but stick the pick in the felt just back of the point and
this will loosen it up and make it softer and more elastic. Where the
strings have worn deep grooves, sandpaper them down nearly even and
soften the felt as above.

In regluing the felt to the head, glue only the back ends of the felt,
and clamp with strong rubber band till the glue sets. Use tailor's
chalk (fuller's earth) to clean hammer felts. To harden or draw felts
back in shape, place a damp cloth over them, and then pass a hot iron
over it.

10. _Dampers_.--Damper felt often gets hardened so that when it comes
against the vibrating string, it causes a sort of buzzing sound.
Loosen it up with the pick. Imperfect damping can sometimes be
corrected in the same way.

The damper head sometimes turns round on its wire, leaving one or two
strings undamped. Tighten the set screw. See that the dampers are in