Sudden damper buzz syndrome

[Andrew and Rebeca Anderson]

Just one of the reasons I like tapering damper timing from the deep 
bass to the treble at about a 1/64" per section (bass earliest off, 
latest down).  Covers all the fuzzies down to the deep bass.
If that piano was far out of tune it would have been dull or lifeless 
sounding.  Once in tune it would be very live and energetic sounding 
and all its non-tuning-related obnoxious warts prominent and 
annoying.  I play after tuning to check for these and then note them 
in my service record recommending: regulation as needed, voicing 
(usually needed), and new damper felt occasionally needed.  I have a 
little written discussion about complete piano service noting that 
after tuning a lot of other issues may become easy to hear and that 
adjusting pitch on a piano is only one of several maintenance items 
needed to maintain a piano at its best.

A paint brush, medium bristle, brushed along the dampers sometimes 
helps although I think it is a short-term solution.  With some care 
this can be attempted after removing the action, engaging the damper 
pedal and brushing through the strings.  Try several out before doing 
too much hard-to-reverse damage.
Some you will just have to remove and file.  Those really should be 
replaced.  If this is the correction make sure your customer knows 
and understands that it was not tuning related and is a separate 
maintenance issue or you will need to great expand your tuning rates 
to cover such work.

Good luck,
Andrew Anderson

At 09:40 AM 11/19/2006, you wrote:
>OK, near LA and not too far from the ocean, it's quite possible that
>salty air + air pollution could have conributed to the dampers getting
>hardened and crusty. How old is the piano -- has it been in this
>semi-controlled studio environment for its entire "lifetime"? Or spent
>its first ten years overlooking the ocean with open windows?
>Whie it seems (sitting here at my computer) that removing the dampers
>and very lightly brushing the contact surface with a soft toothbrush
>or very fine grit sandpaper file is a valid technique to get rid of
>the zings, you should consider that you might want to give the
>customer the options between a "full repair" (cleaning the plain wire
>of any rust or tarnish at the contact point area AND replacing the
>full set of damper felts), and this far less expensive procedure.
>In my experience, customers often suddenly hear "all sorts of noises"
>after a piano is "just tuned". Especially if it's a recording studio
>or venue! Which is a good reason for us to point out  these
>imperfections either before we start tuning, or at least before we
>leave ( and an estimated cost of the repair, voicing, regulation,
>etc.) . Yes, it is difficult for us to do all that in the context of
>"I just want it tuned" appointments, but that's how we can best
>approach 100% customer satisfaction.
>BTW, Marcel's suggestion regarding the pedal adjustments still stands
>-- just because you didn't touch it doesn't mean it may not be part of
>the problem!
>Good luck!
>Patrick Draine
>
>On 11/19/06, Geoff Sykes <thetuner at ivories52.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>Marcel --
>>
>>Nope. Didn't touch the sustain pedal adjustment.