<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2627" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=rol= e_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 4/30/2005 7:23:12 AM Central Standard Time, 741662027@theshusters.org writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size= =2> <DIV><FONT size=2>I've never seen dampers extending below the strings so= far, but I suppose for low tenor on a D, that's what's necessary.  It look= s like the fix is to replace that damper felt, right?  (At least the fr= ont half that was damaged).</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>It still rings a bit more than I'd like, but at least = it drops straight onto the strings.  A tiny amount of added finger press= ure does the trick.  I tried lowering the damper wire into its support bl= ock a bit, but then the sostenuto tab is too high.  Are there any short-t= erm fixes for tomorrow's concert?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Thanks...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>--Cy Shuster--</FONT></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>Cy</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The reason the felt is falling apart is because the strings are squeezi= ng it. When you install your temperament strip, be sure to raise the dampers. I= f you are only using a felt or rubber mute, the same thing can happen, so push= down on the key first, then install the mute.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>To solve your problem, however, pull the damper out, and using a very s= harp knife, or as Joe suggested, using a sharp side cutter, trim the felt straigh= t across, leaving enough for the wedges to go between the strings, but not eno= ugh to get squeezed. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Good luck</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Wim <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"= >Willem Blees, RPT<BR>Piano Technician<BR>School of Music<BR>University of Alabama</FONT></DIV></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>