Thumping Dampers

[Kevin E. Ramsey]

    Today, I got a call to go out to a lady's house on a complaint that the
dampers made a thumping sound when she released the pedal. It was a 4'10"
Chickering, made by Baldwin in Arkansas.  Also, tune, and maybe some
regulation. About the pedals, I'm expecting before I even arrive that
hopefully the pedal dowels are adjusted so loose that the tray is banging on
the blocks or some such.
    I get there and I can really hear what she's talking about; release the
pedals and they really do go "thunk". So I told her I'd see what I could do
and I get down to work. Pedal dowel to tray clearance is about 2 1/2 mm, so
I adjust the pedal from underneath. Pull the action and see how we're doing.
Gee, there aren't any dag blocks, just some lag bolt type thingees
to,,,,,,,,,, well, they don't really do anything, because you can push the
action back until it jams.
    HHmmmm..............

    The dampers look crooked from the top side, and the wire work is really
horrible. I remember wishing I had a digital camera.

    OK, so what's causing the thumping sound......I start flipping the
dampers up with my finger and listening to how solid a sound they make when
they come back down, ( A sure sign that they're seating well)  When I get to
the bass section I can feel it; they're spring loaded. About an extra twenty
grams worth, if not more, and when you release the damper, it really comes
back down hard. Sure makes it damp well, though. Too bad about the heavy
touch that she's also complaining about. So I un-hook a few, well, the wire
work being what it is, they don't damp. The fact that they don't bother with
a pedal stop capstan on these and that they just rely on the damper up-stop
rail, insures that you can get the maximum height for the dampers to come
crashing down onto the strings. All in all, an excellent design.

    Trouble is, it's really a beautiful little piano, the case that is. I
just wish that they would have put as much effort into what goes inside of
the case.

    I overheard the new Baldwin Rep at one of our stores the other day
pointing out that "It's a hand made piano". Next time I see him I think I'll
point out that they've already gone out of business once, and I don't think
that it was all due to their management.


Kevin E. Ramsey
ramsey@extremezone.com