[pianotech] Hammer Line Issue

[wimblees at aol.com]

Israel, et all:

I agree that before doing anything with the damper springs, you should make sure everything else is regulated. But if the?hammers are still?bobbling, weakening the damper springs is a very good remedy.?I had this several months ago with a Steinway console on which I installed new damper levers. I had the same problem, and someone suggested weakening the damper springs. It worked. 

As far as dynamics, I believe the bobbling hammers?have a lot of effect on dynamics, because no matter how hard you hit the key, the hammer will not bounce off the strings in a normal way, which in turn will not give you the dynamic control you want. 

Maybe a sorcerer, but certainly past the apprentice stage. 


Wim

-----Original Message-----
From: Israel Stein <custos3 at comcast.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Sun, 10 May 2009 2:37 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Hammer Line Issue



On Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 16:45:53 -0700 (PDT) Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net> wrote:

>Thank you Ryan.? I have heard several others here say weakening the damper return springs may help with the
>dynamics.? I am assuming the process for weakening/strengthening the damper return springs is similar to the
> process for repetition springs on grands?? Is this correct?

For all you sorceres' apprentices out there who are now rushing with tools in hand to weaken vertical piano springs I say STOP!

That is the very very last thing you want to try? - if nothing else works. Those springs are there for a reason - so that the damper felt exerts sufficient pressure on the string to stop it from vibrating when it isn't supposed to. They do the job that gravity does in grand pianos. Weakening them always runs the risk of allowing some of the more troublesome dampers to "sing" or "leak" - that is, allow unwanted sounds to be heard. 

Only when one is sure that the action is in perfect regulation, and there are no other underlying issues? - and those hammers are still bobbling - should one try this. And do it very, very carefully. 

And, by the way,? I didn't see anyone here write anything about weaker damper springs helping with "dynamics". We are discussing remedies for "bobbling" hammers, aren't we? 

Israel Stein 



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