<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2668" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=rol= e_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 8/4/2005 2:44:16 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes:</DIV> <DIV>  <FONT size=3> Terry</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   This is common to Stwys & I don't think= Baldwins & others  are much different.   The damper underlever center pin  & the tray pivot pin are not in line or at l= east too far from each other  & creates more weight at the front of the tray  due to the weight of  tray,springs  & levers combin= ed . So thump thump baby!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  . Also I've heard fine musicians with the most deplorable pedal technique create an almost slap slap slap sound instead of = the thump. When I modify the tray pivot  so it is in line with the und= er lever center pin the weight & subsequent thump are reduced. Th= e tray & underlever weight are more balanced as the tray pivot/fulcrum has= moved forwards(towards the keyboard)  & the thumping is reduce= d to normal / acceptable levels.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  The dampers age & compaction is also a huge f= actor as every one else has said. ta thump!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  Dale</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size= =2> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1950-ish Baldwin L grand, all original. R= aise dampers with pedal and then release pedal. Dampers make quite an audible thump. Remove action and manually lift a dozen or so dampers and you get a= similar thump - it is especially prominent with the bicords - very little noise from the flat dampers.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Is this nothing more than the sound that = 55 year-old grand dampers make? That is my strong suspicion.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>