Ringing middle string

[Joe & Penny Goss]

Arlie,
Remove action, and lay the piano on its back on a tilter. Using a string
level level the strings at the damper seating point. In doing old
instruments there will be a clean area that the dampers have rested on, use
the level here. On newer pianos you will need to mask just above the dampers
before you remove the action.
You will then need to check hammer mating.
If it is only one or two strings, set the stringd that are not ringing lower
on the bar or agraff so that the damper will make better contact, and check
mating of hammer.
I find that a string will move lower more than it can be raised so consider
trying both as you are leveling either with a level or by guess.
Joe Goss

----- Original Message -----
From: Arlie D. Rauch <adarpub@midrivers.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2000 5:18 AM
Subject: Ringing middle string


> On some old uprights, I've encountered a phenomenon in which the
> middle string does not damp while the outer two do.  This may happen
> on individual notes but sometimes on many notes.
>
> Recently I replaced the damper felt in an old upright, and the middle
> strings kept right on ringing (as they had done before), certainly
> throughout the mid range of the piano.  Was the piano designed this
> way to make it seem more alive?  I don't prefer it that way.  What is
> the suggested fix, if there is one?
>
> On some occasions on an individual note like that I have sanded the
> damper felt so that it is thicker in the middle than on either side.
> It works, but it would take a fair amount of time when many have this
> characteristic.
>
> Thanks for any input.
>
> Arlie D. Rauch
> Glendive, MT
>