Bluthner question(s)

[Dave Swartz, RPT]

At 12:04 PM 2/8/97 -0600, you wrote:
>List,
>
>   I just tuned my first Bluthner, a concert grand, serial #124410. It has
>been restrung, new hammers & damper felts.
>   There is some damper ringing in the middle and tenor sections. I don't
>know if the rebuilder used the original configuration or not, but the tenor
>section only has trichord dampers (front & rear) on notes 24-33. Then the
>small flat felts start.
>   In my opinion, this is probably not enough trichords, and should
>probably be redone to include flat & trichord. Do you agree? If so, should
>I take the trichord/flat dampers up comparable to any other concert grand?
>   I also don't particularly like the totally flat style of felt. I prefer
>the stitched kind (Renner?). There are a lot of other things not done, or
>done wrong, but my primary question is about the trichord dampers.
>   One other question is about the end key felts. They look pretty standard
>except they have an extra piece of felt covering them and continuing on
>down onto the back end of the keys. They're fairly well indented, so I want
>to replace them. Is there any reason to duplicate this extra piece of felt,
>assuming the thickness of the new is OK?
>   Thanks again for any help.
>
>Avery
>
>_____________________________________
>Avery Todd, RPT
>Moores School of Music
>University of Houston
>713-743-3226
>atodd@uh.edu
>_____________________________________
>
Hi Avery,

        It would make sense to continue the tri-flat approach (that is,
tri's front, flats back for several more notes.  One thing I learned is more
damper felt is not necessarily better.  The fingers of the tri's will need
clipped slightly for improved damping and eliminate "whoosh".  Great word
"whoosh"...just not in the piano.

        As far as the key end felt, the determining factor would be damper
lift.  Tray height will help there.  Are capstans used?  See if you have
enough distance with underlever at rest to lower damper blocks.  If so, the
key end felt can go back to original thickness (pedal lift is a
consideration too, needing to then adjust upstop rail...I think the
appropriate name for piano should be.....WORMS....That's right, worms...once
you do one thing then you open up a can of another.

Hope this helps!:}

Dave Swartz, RPT
dms2000@pioneerplanet.infi.net
Majestic Piano, LLP
website: http://www.majesticpiano.com