<!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 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>Marshall,  you = wrote:  <FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000> </FONT> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000>Hi John,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000>If you put the papas mute = between the hammer shank, how do you move it on up the piano as you're going from note = t o note ?  The hammer shanks get in the way .</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial = color=#000000>Marshall</FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>The = instructions I wrote say in step a:</FONT> </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT size=3>a. To tune the left = string of the 3-string unison, insert from under the hammers, between the shanks, = about 4 or 5 notes to the right of your target. (this allows you to keep it right = there for the next 3 or 4 notes). Rest the mute there on the hammer rail.</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT = size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>The key = there is to go 4 or 5 notes <EM>to the right</EM> when you initially insert the mute = between shanks.  You DON'T remove it from between the hammer shanks when = you change notes.  You leave it there and slip it out from one place and = into the next until you need more room again.  You can usually do 3 or 4 = notes (9 to 12 strings) this way.  The mute is at a progressively less acute = angle as you move up the keyboard until you re-position.</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>You also = asked about the split rubber mute.  Mine has a spring steel handle something like a = soundboard steel.   It's #204 in the Schaff catalog, page 33 = in my catalog.  (Describes it as having "Blue steelhandle" <EM>sic</EM>)</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>The = Papp's mute is Schaff #207, same page.</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>You also = asked me about difficulties inserting the split rubber mute.  I said I had = none.  Yesterday I noticed that it IS a bit floppy, but it never bothers or = annoys or frustrates me, yet I could imagine that it might bother a = sight-challenged person.  Then I remembered a tip I heard about that:  PAINT = one of the parts of it (either one) white so you see the contrast easier.  = I've just gotten used to how long the split extends past one side and I can place = it rather easily, even with my suspect eyesight.  (Yes, I'm sure it's = nowhere near as bad as yours)</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>Anyway, = both of these mutes are very fast in use and I'm sure they can help you increase your = speed if you learn how to manage them.</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>Hope = this helps.</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>John Dorr</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>Helena, = MT</FONT></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>