damper modification help

[tune4u@earthlink.net]

I think I'd try placing a short piece of felt above the damper, by hand, to
see if it stops the ringing. If it does, can you A) move the damper up
slightly higher (or--maybe--lower) on the wire or B) replace them with
Baldwin triples.

How's the old damper spring tension? Maybe replacing the bass damper levers
& springs would be worthwhile.

Thoughts.

Alan Barnard
Smothered in Snow in Salem, MO

----- Original Message -----
From: <Tvak@aol.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2002 8:06 AM
Subject: damper modification help


> I replaced the dampers on a big old upright piano and now find that the
new
> dampers are not doing their job very well.  The monochord strings all have
a
> ringing third partial (octave+5th).  They are seated and regulated
properly.
>
> The original damper felts were one inch in length, one solid piece.  So I
> replaced them exactly that way using Steinway damper felt.  As a solution
to
> my problem it was recommended to me by another tech whose work with
dampers I
> respect, that I split this one long piece into two smaller pieces on the
same
> damper head by cutting a "wedge" into the middle.  He felt that the two
> resultant pieces will be less stiff, and will conform to the string and
> provide better damping qualities.  OK, sounds like a plan to me.
>
> "Wedge" implies a triangular cut.  If this is the proper method of doing
> this, should the wide end of the triangle be on the string side, or the
> damper head side?  Or does it have to be triangular at all?  Couldn't I
just
> cut a square portion from the center of the damper felt and accomplish the
> same thing?
>
> Any advice, tips, or alternate solutions will be appreciated before I take
> razor to felt.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom S
>
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