<html> <br> At 07:29 PM 26/10/99 -0400, you wrote: <br> <font face="arial" size=2><blockquote type=cite cite>  Has anyone ever retrofitted old Steinway upright dampers with the Yamaha U-1 or U-3 damper head assemblies available through Schaff? I have a job coming up where I'll be installing new Tokiwa damper-levers and I'm wondering if it would make sense to go with the Yamaha blocks to save on wire bending, get better damping, or both. Do the Yamaha-style overdampers work on the Steinway (model "K")? I also understand that these are supplied *without* the dowel damper blocks, and that the ones available through Schaff are problematic. Anyone had any experiences?<br> <br> - Mark<br> </font></blockquote><br> <font size=3>Hi Mark,<br>              Use the U3 damper set as that will give you the nice triple wedge dampers, and cut the over ring to almost nothing<br> The damper blocks I run through the band saw with a  fence so that you will end up with a  basic damper shoe about 1/16" thick. Glue a felt square to the shoe to act as a hinge, use the the dowel type damper fittings to glue to the felt.  I use a generous dollop of white glue, it seems to stay nice an elastic, and does not wick into the felt as much as some other glues.<br> One tip, make sure that the top of the damper head is tipped very slightly forward to prevent the bottom of the damper from dragging on the string on lift.<br> I have used the over dampers for the first 3 notes of the tenor and it takes quite a bit of adjustment to get them just right, also used tri damper felt with satisfactory results but not quite as good.<br> Go for it you will probably love the results, remember to braid the back scale area of the bass and tenor.<br> Hope this helps.<br> Roger<br> <br> <br> </font><br> <div>Roger Jolly</div> <div>BaldwinYamaha Piano Centre</div> <div>Saskatoon and Regina</div> <div>Saskatchewan, Canada.</div> <div>306-665-0213</div> Fax 652-0505 </html>