maddening dampers

[Dave Nereson]

Damper not damping.  Grand or upright?  Doesn't matter -- happens on both.
Press the strings.  Plenty of follow.  Check lift with pedal.  OK.  Lift
with key.  OK.  String level. OK.  Regulation, alignment, seating, OK.
Softness vs. crustiness.  OK.  But it doesn't damp.  Check for sympathetic
ringing on other strings, but no, it's this damper.  Take it off, needle or
fluff up the area not damping.  Put back on.  Still doesn't damp.  Try
pushing or pulling strings in/out, to change the string level.  Doesn't
work.  Put strings back.  Still doesn't damp. Take it back off, peel off a
thin layer of felt.  Put back on.  Still doesn't damp.  Getting
mad/frustrated now.  Have tried all tricks learned in PTG chapter
technicals, Journal articles, and convention classes.  Doesn't damp(en).
Decide to replace the felt with brand new.  Do so;  re-check align, seating,
regulation.  Still doesn't damp.  Well, it does, but not as well as the
other (old) ones.  WHY?!!  WHY?!!  WHY?!!  Decide the felt must need time to
settle into the strings.  Glad it's not for a concert that starts in five
minutes.  Still need to hear some damper secrets that in 20 years of
classes, articles, and technicals, I haven't heard or seen.      Sincerely,
David Nereson, RPT, Denver