[pianotech] (no subject)

[Will Truitt]

Hi Gordon:

The upper dampers are called overdampers.  Because of the string length in
the lower tenor and the larger amount of energy these strings produce,
accompanied by the necessarily shorter length of the damper due to the bass
strings crossing over the tenor strings in this area, damping is not very
efficient in this area.  Thus Steinway, and some other manufacturers, added
the overdampers to assist damping the wire.  

It works, but is not the best way to address the problem.  Older upright
pianos, even Steinways classically had damper systems where in at least the
bass and tenor area of the piano, the dampers were simply too small to do
the job well. If you are replacing these old dampers, you have an
opportunity to improve them by using longer dampers.  You can either make
them or order them from suppliers like Pianoforte Supply.  

Usually I can change the design so that I eliminate all but the lowest 1
(sometimes 2) overdamper.  This I do by using a split trichord and flat
piece that is as long as possible without interfering with the bass strings.
Typically I can get full length dampers after the first two.  Those two I
make with a trichord at the bottom, and a flat as part of the overdamper.  A
properly redesigned damper system like this will be dramatically better than
the original and is well worth doing.  

Will Truitt

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Don
Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 8:03 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] (no subject)

Hi Gordon,

The lower damphers are compromised because of the strike point of the
hammers and without the auxiliary dampher heads those notes would sing.

At 06:44 PM 12/27/2008 -0600, you wrote:
>   Would someone please explain the added dampers and why?
> Attachment Converted: "c:\eudora\attach\DSC00273ab.jpg"  No virus found in
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Regards,
Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T.
Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat

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