<!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 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I'm not an expert of dampers, but as you haven't = gotten many responses, here goes!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>"...the tuner said the condition could not be corrected..."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>First off, such a statement is always = untrue. Anything can be corrected. The only question is how and is the piano = owner will to pay for it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>"I have a 1973 Kimball 5'8" grand..."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here is the biggest problem that has an = easy solution......... (running for cover)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>"...the hammers were too light to dampen the strings..."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I imagine someone made a mistake in = terminology here and the theory was that the damper heads are too light. If that is = true, the damper underlevers can be appropriately leaded. Maybe the lead has = even fallen out (unlikely, but hey, it's a Kimball)?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>"I think the problem has been caused by my playing frequently = with the soft pedal engaged..."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I agree with Avery - no way would this = cause damper problems...... unless of course, the owner ALWAYS has her foot = depressing the soft pedal, and this piano has a vertical-piano-type soft-pedal design = (where the hammers are moved closer to the string as opposed to a normal grand = where the action shifts) and the dampers are engaging early.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>"The piano has had very little use"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Make sure underlever pinning does not = have too much friction. Check for tight damper rail bushings. Check for hard damper felt.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Maybe check for a rat skeleton wedged = under the damper lift rail. Or maybe one of those little wine cups from when the = piano was used in a church.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Well, there's a few things to consider anyway.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Good luck. Let us know.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE 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"><B>From:</B> <A title=tunericks@yahoo.com = href="mailto:tunericks@yahoo.com">Rick Bazemore</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, June 07, 2004 = 4:57 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Kimball Grand Damper Problems</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>I have not yet seen this client's piano, but have an = appointment to assess it next week.  I have spoken with her over the phone and = it seems that as a whole the dampers do not seat themselves on the strings = properly allowing them to continue to sound after the pedal is released.  = This is an area where I have not had a lot of experience and would appreciate = a good 1-2-3 type strategy on how to best assess and fix the problem.  = The customer's original email is below.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>"I have a 1973 Kimball 5'8" grand that has damper problems.  = Tha last time I had it tuned, a couple of years ago, the tuner said the = condition could not be corrected - that the hammers were too light to dampen the = strings-- but I want a second opinion.  I think the problem has = been caused by my playing frequently with the soft pedal engaged - a = habit I got into while practicing in a tiny cubicle when in school -- many = years ago.  The piano has had very little use"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rick Bazemore</DIV> <P> <HR SIZE=1> <FONT face=arial size=-1>Do you Yahoo!?<BR>Friends. Fun. <A href="http://messenger.yahoo.com/">Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger</A></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>