[pianotech] Damper Issue???

[Matthew Todd]

I appreciate the comments Tom, thank you.
 
However, I was determined today to find and solve the problem.  After an hr. and half later, to no avail.  I have seen posts from some of you with decades of experience, but you experience something new.  Sometimes you cannot troubleshoot it, and you need the advice of others.  There are obvious things that are pretty easy.  Partly because it is obvious, but about 90% of it is because I have experienced the issue many times before.
 
By the way Tom, when you twisted the bass string for your customer and it didn't work, did you still charge them for the time it took?  I'm only asking because I have had procedures done at the doctors office which did not work, but I still had to pay for it.
 
Thanks again Tom,
Matthew
 
PS  I have already decided to solve this problem!  For whatever it's worth, thanks for the moral support.

--- On Sun, 12/6/09, Tom Driscoll <tomtuner at verizon.net> wrote:


From: Tom Driscoll <tomtuner at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Damper Issue???
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009, 4:31 AM





Matthew ,
  Tom Driscoll here,
Comments interspersed below





Ger,
 
How could I troubleshoot the vbar, or the wire being loose in the damper head such as you mentioned?
 
v-bar--- lower tension a bit on the string and slide it side to side on the bar. The wire will smooth out the cast iron somewhat if it has a burr or a deep groove. Sometimes just dropping tension on both tuning pins then tighten one  so a different part of the wire will bear on the vbar. I'm talking maybe 1/32 " or so.I did this recently on a new chinese grand that was jingling like crazy with success.
 
It is the right string of the note that is being affected.  That is the side of the damper wire of that note.  And, after using my damper wire bending tool to bend/manipulate the wire, it was unsuccessful.  I am thinking it could be the bend of the wire toward the top as it enters the head.  Is there a way to troubleshoot that issue as well?
 
Lift the damper up and tap -wiggle -manipulate -compare to its' neighbor, squeeze the wire into the head with your parallel pliers. Pull the sucker out of the piano and see if the problem goes away. 
Matthew  ,success in trouble shooting problems isn't something you develop. In my opinion it is a decision.
 There is nothing wrong with getting advice as we all give and receive our share but the piano and the problem are in front of you. Listen,touch, pull , tap ,swap ,spit,kick and cry if need be. If you decide to find a problem, even if it is unrepairable you are practically there. 
    First call today was on an old Steinway upright (1874) with a customer complaint of a dead bass.
 I showed them where the wrap changed from copper to iron hence the thuds. Twisting and manipulating the worst offender made no change . I can't fix it without string replacement which is out of the budget for them but they now understand the problem  and we moved on to focus on the stuff that they can afford to have me repair. 
Decide that you will find the problem and you most likely will .
As I have quoted to you before from the great Yogi Berra--
"You can observe a lot by looking "
 
Good luck.
 
Thank you for your help!
Matthew


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