Kimball Grand Damper Problems

[Farrell]

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I'm not an expert of dampers, but as you haven't gotten many responses, =
here goes!

"...the tuner said the condition could not be corrected..."

First off, such a statement is always untrue. Anything can be corrected. =
The only question is how and is the piano owner will to pay for it.

"I have a 1973 Kimball 5'8" grand..."

Here is the biggest problem that has an easy solution......... (running =
for cover)

"...the hammers were too light to dampen the strings..."

I imagine someone made a mistake in terminology here and the theory was =
that the damper heads are too light. If that is true, the damper =
underlevers can be appropriately leaded. Maybe the lead has even fallen =
out (unlikely, but hey, it's a Kimball)?

"I think the problem has been caused by my playing frequently with the =
soft pedal engaged..."

I agree with Avery - no way would this cause damper problems...... =
unless of course, the owner ALWAYS has her foot depressing the soft =
pedal, and this piano has a vertical-piano-type soft-pedal design (where =
the hammers are moved closer to the string as opposed to a normal grand =
where the action shifts) and the dampers are engaging early.

"The piano has had very little use"

Make sure underlever pinning does not have too much friction. Check for =
tight damper rail bushings. Check for hard damper felt.

Maybe check for a rat skeleton wedged under the damper lift rail. Or =
maybe one of those little wine cups from when the piano was used in a =
church.

Well, there's a few things to consider anyway.

Good luck. Let us know.

Terry Farrell

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Rick Bazemore=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 4:57 PM
  Subject: Kimball Grand Damper Problems


  I have not yet seen this client's piano, but have an appointment to =
assess it next week.  I have spoken with her over the phone and it seems =
that as a whole the dampers do not seat themselves on the strings =
properly allowing them to continue to sound after the pedal is released. =
 This is an area where I have not had a lot of experience and would =
appreciate a good 1-2-3 type strategy on how to best assess and fix the =
problem.  The customer's original email is below.

  "I have a 1973 Kimball 5'8" grand that has damper problems.  Tha last =
time I had it tuned, a couple of years ago, the tuner said the condition =
could not be corrected - that the hammers were too light to dampen the =
strings-- but I want a second opinion.  I think the problem has been =
caused by my playing frequently with the soft pedal engaged - a habit I =
got into while practicing in a tiny cubicle when in school -- many years =
ago.  The piano has had very little use"

  Rick Bazemore


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