Not enough dampers

[Stephen Airy]

I got a question for you guys -- my piano only has the
upper bearing point on the plain wire length muted --
the bridge end of all strings and the tuning pin end
in the bass is allowed to vibrate.  My question is
this:  Would muting off the ends of the strings make
my tone more mellow or dull?  I like it the way it is
(and some notes are still not quite full or bright
enough -- probably need to replace the hammers.  I
like the sound of the Baldwin Hamilton btw.)

--- Brian Trout <grandrestorations@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi Phil,
> 
> If it is indeed the speaking lengths of the upper
> unmuted strings that is ringing on, there's not
> much to be done except adding dampers (possible
> perhaps, but not likely practical).
> 
> It is possible that a set of poorly working bass
> dampers can give a similar effect by excessively
> bleeding overtones.
> 
> Another possibility would be waste lengths that
> are speaking.  Some piano makers don't bother to
> mute off anything in their upright pianos leaving
> the lengths between tuning pin and the first
> bearing point open, the front duplex area open,
> and the rear duplex area open.  And when you add
> that all up, that's a lot of open string to be
> jangling away unchecked.
> 
> I think if it was me, I'd start with doing my
> best to make sure the dampers that are there work
> as well as they can.  (Adding some mass to them
> may or may not be helpful, especially in the
> bass.) Then I'd have at it with a roll of string
> braid or similar acting substance of choice. 
> After that, it gets more complicated, whether
> it's finding a better piano, or altering this
> one.
> 
> Good luck,
> 
> Brian T.
>  
> 
> =====
> Brian Trout
> Grand Restorations
> 3090 Gause Blvd., #202
> Slidell, LA  70461
> 985-649-2700
> GrandRestorations@yahoo.com
> 
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Buy the perfect holiday gifts at Yahoo! Shopping.
> http://shopping.yahoo.com


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Buy the perfect holiday gifts at Yahoo! Shopping.
http://shopping.yahoo.com