[pianotech] Knabe spinet with damper issues

[Gerald Groot]

Other than old worn out dampers, check to see if the dummy damper is broken.
Check to see if its spring is broken.  If if is, it will not give enough
tension to the bass section to push the bass damper rod out of place
allowing the dampers to seat back onto the strings and could be the problem.
If you push on the damper rod itself where the pedal rods normally engage,
does this shut off the strings?  If not, it is possible the problem exists
with that. 

 

Jer

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of bppiano at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 11:55 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Knabe spinet with damper issues

 

I had a very frustating session today with a relatively nice Knabe spinet.
The thing tunes well enough but the over ring is totally unacceptable.  I
tried everything I know to do.  

 

checked and adjusted damper alignment from every perspective

check for damper follow after pushing in the strings

pedals were unconnected and still the ring

made sure the upper and lower felts of the bass section were engaging the
strings simultaneously

checked damper string tension and they were consistent

I added additional damper travel into the strings and adjusted the spoon
timing

 

Still no improvement

 

Tomorrow, I'll try new damper felts on the first damper of each section of
damper configuration - single string, bichord, trichord and flat felt just
to see if there is improvement.

 

First off, what is the ballpark average for damper string tension?  How many
grams before the damper head moves?

 

Second, is there an alternative to installling new damper felts?

 

You suggestions will be most appreciated.

 

Bruce*not much good with upright dampers" Pennington 



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