Avery asks; >> I've scheduled a regulation job next week for a customer with an older Steinway L. The damper underlevers have the helper springs and they seem to be adjusted too tight. Without one of the gram resistance gauges, is there >>any way to set/adjust the tension on these springs? No matter what gram setting you use, it is important that the resistance be even, or evenly graduated. One way to do this is to remove the tray, and turn it upside down, letting the underlevers be supported by the springs. You should see all of the underlevers hanging on their springs, not quite touching the felt above. If you give it a slight bounce, any really weak springs will allow the lever to drop, and too tight springs will prevent the lever from moving. I had to remove the damper tray on a factory set up once, and when I checked the springs in this way, they were all just barely supported by the springs, bouncing quite easily when I jiggled the tray. If the dampers are really set to mate well with the strings, it takes very little spring to assist the weighted levers in efficient muting. Regards, Ed Foote Precision Piano Works Nashville, Tn.
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