..damper seating..

[Mike Masters]

Phil Bondi wrote:
> 
> ..just tuned a new Baldwin Acro..and Thank You Baldwin for taking the
> *spinet* out of the Acro..
> 
> ..i noticed a overall *ring* in this piano..as if the entire Damper
> system was not hitting the strings in the proper place..especially in
> the wound strings..
> 
> ..the customer did not show concern, but I noticed it..
> 
> ..what would be the proper procedure for correcting this *minor*
> problem..?..and I do mean minor..something tells me a turn on the
> action bolts where the action sits might take care of the problem, but
> wouldn't that but more strain on the top bolts..?
> 
> ..inquiring rookie minds wanna know..

	I have the opportunity to work on quite a few of the new baldwin Grands 
and Uprights, Acrosonics included. One thing I have noticed, and had a 
problem with is that the action bolts are already turned up too high. I 
dread removing the actions on these because it will not go back in 
without first lowering the bolts. Then try to get them back to where 
they were....... Well, the first one I did, I didn't count how many 
turns I lowered them. Then when I reinstalled the action, realized that 
there was definitely no lost motion. Instead of cranking them back up, I 
turned them up so the action could be removed and replaced easily, and 
then regulate the action, mainly lost motion and damper alignment. I am 
not the best when it comes to regulating dampers so I fought with it. 
But when the time comes 25 years down the road, when there is a broken 
wippen flange, I'll know that I won't have to fight the action in and 
out of the piano (or the next tech who comes along.)

Mike Masters
Masters Piano Service
Lakewood, OH