Bosendorfer dampers

[Newton Hunt]

I would suggest two things before doing anything drastic.

1.  Pluck each string to see if one or more is better muted than the
others.  If the outside strings are more open than the inside string
then it is likely that the cuts in the felt are not deep enough to
allow the wedging effect needed for effective dampening.  Use a very
sharp blade and cut the felt in the center deeper.

2.  If one string is more open than the other two then the one wedge
is thicker than the other and will need to be thinned with pliers to
make them match and mute.

Trim a little off the length of the wedges so they do not bow the
strings on their way up.  Cut at a slight angle to the inside to
provide an open wedge which allows the felt to guide itself down
between the strings easily.

Lightly tap the front and the back of the damper and see if one moves
down more than the other and bend the wire at the block to adjust
this.

The quality of the felt is critical to it's functioning well.

Make certain there is not sluggishness in the damper levers and that
the damper wire moves freely in the guide bushings and that the wire
is not binding in the bushing.

Also make certain the damper lever is not touching anything when it is
at rest, like another damper lever or the lift tray.

Hope this is helpful.

		Newton Hunt
		New Jersey USA