Damn-Per Problem

[Farrell]

Doggone Dampers. I just tuned the Baldwin Hamilton that had the 1/2"
pinblock/frame separation. When the plate was leaning forward (I just
learned it was for several years), the strings were squishing the
dampers...............and bending them backwards. Ahmmm, that's the 32 year
old dampers. Upon drawing the plate back to position, most dampers were not
setting upon their respective strings. I set forth my inexperienced little
fingers to bend and mangle damper wires, and got them so that they LOOK to
be operating properly. They do NOT SOUND like they are operating properly.
Lots and lots and lots of little leaking here there and most everywhere.
Mostly in the strings with wedge dampers.

Is this just simply a case of old hard dampers (the bass dampers buzz a
little) that when moved are never going to sit perfectly again? Is the only
solution new dampers? This is a 32 year old kinda %$*& piano and I have a
hard time encouraging the owner to spend another nickel on it. Bottom line:
Is it my inability to regulate dampers (always had good luck with new
dampers), or is it just that old hardened dampers will most often leak a bit
and the only 100% solution is new dampers? HELP!

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com