[pianotech] Hammer Line Issue

[Matthew Todd]

Can you not put the tension back on?


TODD PIANO WORKS 
Matthew Todd, Piano Technician 
(979) 248-9578
http://www.toddpianoworks.com

--- On Mon, 5/11/09, David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net> wrote:

From: David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Line Issue
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Monday, May 11, 2009, 1:22 AM








About the only time I’ve been moved to weaken damper springs is when they are so strong that the touch when the damper pedal is not engaged has too much resistance.  That seems to happen a lot on some newer European uprights that I’ve encountered.  It does help the feel of the action but you do need to be careful not to take too much tension off.  
 

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com
 


From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Israel Stein
Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 5:37 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Hammer Line Issue
 
On 

Date: 
Sat, 9 May 2009 16:45:53 -0700 (PDT) Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net> wrote:

>Thank you Ryan.  I have heard several others here say weakening the damper return springs may help with the
>dynamics.  I am assuming the process for weakening/strengthening the damper return springs is similar to the
> process for repetition springs on grands?  Is this correct?

For all you sorceres' apprentices out there who are now rushing with tools in hand to weaken vertical piano springs I say STOP!

That is the very very last thing you want to try  - if nothing else works. Those springs are there for a reason - so that the damper felt exerts sufficient pressure on the string to stop it from vibrating when it isn't supposed to. They do the job that gravity does in grand pianos. Weakening them always runs the risk of allowing some of the more troublesome dampers to "sing" or "leak" - that is, allow unwanted sounds to be heard. 

Only when one is sure that the action is in perfect regulation, and there are no other underlying issues  - and those hammers are still bobbling - should one try this. And do it very, very carefully. 

And, by the way,  I didn't see anyone here write anything about weaker damper springs helping with "dynamics". We are discussing remedies for "bobbling" hammers, aren't we? 

Israel Stein 

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