>From: ATodd@UH.EDU >Subject: Teacher's piano problem >I have in my studio a 7' Baldwin, purchased about 4 years ago. at the initial tone there is a "pfffft" sound, which reminds >me a little of the mechanical sound of an organ pipe. It doesn't >happen on each note. Could it be some type of overtone caused by the >damper exciting the string upon playing? > Ok Avery, I don't feel it's dampers. They can be pretty much eliminated by holding the sustain pedal down while striking an affected key. If the damper wire isn't "ticking" the neighboring string, and the addition of the sustain pedal doesn't eliminate the "chiff", proceed. Tighten all cabinet screws EVERYWHERE YOU CAN REACH THEM. Especially the lid prop and the lid alignment pin and socket thingie. (technical term) Although I don't suspect this to be the problem since it only shows up in the double stringed bass. Lift all bass strings at the agraffes in the affected area. What the heck, do all the bass strings. Lift up on all the strings using a stringing hook, starting at the end of the winding, and pulling slightly toward the bearing point letting the hook slide to that point while you're pulling up. Next, tap all the strings down at the bearing points on the bridge. I used a hammer shank and a side cutter for a hammer, and tapped on all the strings right at the point of bearing at the bridge pin. On each string, I tap first at that bearing point, then tap a few times inbetwixt the bridge pins on that string traveling towards the rear/htich pin and ending with a tap at the rear bearing point. Then I tap all the loops at the hitch pin to make sure they are all laying really flat against the plate. Do this to all the strings underneath the bass strings as well. Being a Baldwin, the bearing is set at the hitch pins. Don't tap them down flat. Leave them alone but do tap all the strings on the bridges. The hammer shank I used was still usable when I was through with the last piano I did this to. That should be an indication of how little pressure it takes to seat that string to the bridge and the bridge pin. If this doesn't fix the problem, theres a loose metal junction box behind the sheet rock in the wall and they'll need to replace the entire house at a tremendous expense, increasing the property value in the neighborhood making all the neighbors mad because their taxes went up. This will lead to people leaving their houses empty because they can't sell them and drug dealers will move into the neighborhood ruining the feeling of family in the area and you will be the blame. It's best to leave this alone BOY!! never mind.......... Lar Larry Fisher RPT, Metro Portland, Oregon's Factory Preferred Installer for MSR/PianoDisc Products phone 360-256-2999 or email larryf@pacifier.com http://pacifier.com/~larryf/homepage.html .......and the piano's keyboard smiled at me and said, "I dare you to tune me!"
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