I dealt with this exact same situation a few months ago. I had concluded that it would be too expensive and impractical to design a celeste-type must system in the grand. What I did instead was to buy some cheap heavy carpeting that could be cut up. I placed these directly onto the soundboard underneath the strings. They do not contact the strings. I installed rubber castor cups under the piano legs. Thirdly I attached foam rubber to the underbelly of the piano. When the girl played on the piano, she almost cried because she couldn't get any dynamic contrast anymore. However, when I called back a few weeks later they told me there were no more complaints. > > One of my customers is a piano teacher who lives in an apartment condo. > > A new owner just moved into the apartment under her and is complaining > > about the noise. The piano is a 1919 5' Drachman grand. I suggested > > closing the area under the soundboard with foam rubber and keeping the > > lid closed. She wants me to get the material and do the work. It's the > > first request of this kind that I have had. Any suggestions? > > > > Paul Larudee
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