<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2912" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>It is a good idea "to replace dampers on an old upright with ones that are longer". I highly recommend getting a copy of Bill Spurlock's paper on <STRONG><FONT face=Verdana color=#cc0000>Vertical Damper Replacement <A href="http://www.spurlocktools.com/id36.htm">http://www.spurlocktools.com/id36.htm</A></FONT></STRONG> <FONT face=Verdana color=#cc0000><STRONG>.</STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#000000>  Piano Forte Supply has 55 mm and 67 mm long upright bass dampers: </FONT></FONT> <A href="http://www.pianofortesupply.com/dampers1.html">http://www.pianofortesupply.com/dampers1.html</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Yes, you could measure the spring tension with a spring gauge, but any old upright is likely to have very weak wires. Consider replacement - and it is often easier to replace the entire damper lever assembly.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I guarantee you, you don't want to mess with upright dampers without Bill Spurlock's paper in front of you. Only $2.50 and worth hundreds easily.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry Farrell</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"> </DIV> <DIV>          Is it a bad idea to replace dampers on an old upright with ones that are longer, we're talking about 3/8" longer (3/16ths at each end). ...and this would be for the bass's bi and mono dampers only. Is the longer length going to cause a problem when the damper goes to lift? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, while I am in there, is it a good idea to verrrry slightly (bend) each damper's spring wire so that it strengthens their pressure on the strings? Is there a way, perhaps a gage, to measure the pressure of these springs? If it can be measured, what should it be?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks</DIV> <DIV>Julia Gottshall,</DIV> <DIV>Reading, PA</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>