---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment At the risk of raising the ire of the upper partial dissectors hard at=20= work on this list, I'd like to add to and prolong the overdamper thread=20= :^) [ Disclaimer: I hope I am not starting to look like the Houdini of=20 overdampers here, I simply have no fear of them and so I see more than=20= the average technician, and I am merely expressing my opinion.] Joe Garrett wrote: > The "after-ring" is intentional!!!! Do NOT try to "improve" the=20 > damping of Over-Damper Pianos....EVER! These instruments were made to=20= > sound like "ancient" instruments, only louder and a larger compass.=20 > Please do not fall into that pit. Attempting to "Improve" the damping=20= > will be a road of major frustrations and failure. I don't think this is really the case. While it is true, of = course,=20 that tastes and expectations of piano tone and performance have shifted=20= over time, I would speculate the better overdamper pianos (of the day)=20= indeed tried to sound contemporary - after all, they were competing=20 against underdamper pianos already (I am talking 1880s + ) When I encounter a 100 year old underdamper piano with leaky = dampers=20 and tubby bass strings, I always assume the instrument didn't sound=20 this way when it was new. (That is why we rebuild them.) Similarly,=20= on overdamper pianos the after-ring is surely several times more than=20 it originally was. It is often fairly easy to get rid of at least half of the = after-ring,=20 which probably gets the piano sounding a lot closer to what it was=20 supposed to sound like. An easy test for the potential of damping=20 improvement is to push the overdamper assembly in toward the strings=20 and compare the after-ring to the original state. Usually, damping=20 improves considerably. Often, the overdamper assembly can be brought=20 in a bit closer to the strings with the center support. If not, the=20 action "holders" (rarely are they brackets as we know them) can be=20 shimmed to tilt the action in a bit. Of course, this is more of a=20 make-it-work measure than a "proper" repair, but it works. (and I=20 don't have the gall to sell a two thousand dollar reconditioning job on=20= a piano like that.) In many cases, the damper felts (being end grain felt - see = below)=20 have compressed and the damper wire lift buttons are resting on the=20 wippen - essentially the same effect as damper arms resting on the=20 spoons of an underdamper action. A huge improvement can be made in=20 short order by adjusting the damper wires. So, yes - go for it - DO try to improve the damping! Do we = have a=20 feud yet, Joe? :^) Regarding the felt: Ed Sutton wrote: > Please note that when replacing dampers on 19th century pianos you=20 > must first ascertain the grain orientation of the original dampers.=A0=20= > You may need to cut new dampers from felt sheets to duplicate the=20 > original dampers.=A0 Changing the grain orientation will change the=20 > damping.=A0 Of course, you need to be sure the dampers on the piano = are=20 > original! To understand damper felt grain, tear apart old dampers=20= > in various directions, noting that some ways tear in even sheets,=20 > others resist or tear raggedly. > Ed S. and Joe Garrett wrote: > I have no problem with replacing the damper felt, as long as it is the=20= > CORRECT felt, with the CORRECT fiber orientation.<G> Most often on overdamper actions, the damper felt is END grain felt,=20 i.e. cut ends of the wool fibers are contacting and damping the=20 strings. If anyone is looking for this kind of felt, I have some in=20 stock. (I have been told it is quite the job to install new felt and=20 regulate the dampers on these beasties. But, hey, there is always the=20= excuse "That's what they were MADE to sound like") I think that is about all I know on this subject, so I will go away=20 now... Jurgen Goering Piano Forte Supply (250) 754-2440 info@pianofortesupply.com http://www.pianofortesupply.com ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 4019 bytes Desc: not available Url : https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/fc/89/fd/00/attachment.bin ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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