List, I have enjoyed reading all of the responses. And I think another stab at the explanation might be in order. Below is the question from Tom D. : Patrick, Could please tell me what you mean by "adequate lost motion in the whip/capstan," and "adequate lost motion with the damper spoon", Other than a dampers lifts away from the string when its respective hammer is about half the blow distance, and with hammer at rest there is follow-through of the damper if you press a string towards the soundboard, with the dampers sitting flush against the string (not just the top part damping). Tom all of these things are occurring, the piano is well regulated. 1. If I push in on the string, the dampers follow. 2. The spoon contact isn't keeping the damper off of the string. 3. The damper lift rail is solid, pedal lift motion engages after pedal is depressed. 4. No known obstacles on rest felts. 5. Damper lift (key engaging) occurs at the 1/2 point, regularly throughout. The reason all of this started is because I was recommended as having the best credentials to solve this problem. Meaning, I haven't ever seen this piano until recently. I opened the piano (can of worms) expecting to see the faux sostenuto rod holding the bass dampers off and it wasn't, I plodded down the list of potential causes, eventually realizing that none of the above could be accounted for. Since we live in the "Mile High" city, (therefore, wild humidity/temperature fluctuations) I am wondering if the boards have flexed causing the action mounts to change the damper's angle of contact? And if that is the case, I am inclined to let it self-correct. The only other possibilities I like are; hard felts and technician interference, if a previous tech had changed any of the action mounting bolts locations. Also, note that the dampers do not make that "hard felt" contact sound. Still miffed, but appreciative, Patrick Wethington
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC