<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C4A990.2F1CFC30"> <link rel=Edit-Time-Data href="cid:editdata.mso@01C4A990.2F1CFC30"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = name="time"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="date"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Matthew = -<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I generally use two felt mute = strips on verticals – one for the tenor and another for the treble. The = treble strip tapers from about 9/16” to about 7/16”. I carry a = small piece of wood, about 8” long by 3” wide by 1/8” thick that I = use to push the treble strip below the dampers. If the dampers lift relatively = high off the strings then I am able to push the strip into position without = tilting the action back. I start inserting this strip from C 88 which usually = leaves a “tail” protruding from the break in the hammers that I can reach with my = fingers and pull out from the bass side one note at a time until I reach the last = damper. At that point I reach down with the handle of a wire mute and gently = pull the tail under the dampers toward the treble so that I can continue tuning = by pulling on the tail from the treble side of the dampers until I reach = the top of the piano. <o:p></o:p>  While I’m at it I’ll = mention that I also mute the wound strings all at once before I start tuning. I = do this by inserting rubber mutes (without wire handles) in between every other = unison of the bichords. Most bass tuning pins are arranged such that I can tune = the bottom pin of the highest bass unison, then the top tuning pin of the = next unison down, repeating this pattern until I reach the monochords. Once I = reach the bottom I remove ALL of the rubber mutes and (starting at the top of = the bass) then simply reverse the tuning pattern for the bichords. In this = way I don’t have to take my hand off the tuning hammer to remove the = mutes on at a time. A 26 bass piano will require about 8 rubber mute to do = this.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> - Mark<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original = Message----- From: Matthew Todd [mailto:pianotech88@yahoo.com] Sent: = <st1:date Month="10" Day="2" Year="2004">Saturday, October 02, = 2004</st1:date> <st1:time Hour="20" Minute="32">8:32 PM</st1:time> To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: = Muting<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> I hope you guys don't mind my elementary = questions.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> When I strip mute a vertical, I have been = practicing pushing the felt down behind the dampers.  Is that bad for my practice?  Since I loose my damping effect, everything I play "bleeds" together, so I don't know if that is a hindrance to = me hearing beats and doing my tests correctly.  What do you all = think?<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Matthew<o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='margin-left:.5in'> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=1 width="100%" align=center> </div> </div> Do you Yahoo!? <a href="http://vote.yahoo.com">vote.yahoo.com</a> - Register online = to vote today!<o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>