[pianotech] Damper Felt

[John Delacour]

At 21:28 -0700 20/04/2011, David Love wrote:

>Preferences: horizontal cut or vertical cut--why?

In principle I have always preferred horizontal because the felts 
have less sideways rigidity, but the problem with some horizontal 
strips is that the felting is too loose. For nearly all work now I 
buy horizontal Yamaha strips.  These are more expensive but the 
quality is very good.  For Steinways I generally use the hugely 
expensive original sets.  I've just paid $185 + postage + 20% tax for 
a set for Model M but the quality is pretty good and what I spend for 
the pre-cut set I saver in labour.  Steinway, as you know, have 
always used horizontal bass felts.

I don't think it can really be said that one style is better than the 
other but the quality of the felt is very important and I am not 
satisfied with either the German or the French strips that most 
people use over here.  Perhaps in America you have more variety and 
better quality.

JD