Changing dampers

[Bill Ballard]

At 10:16 PM -0600 7/1/03, Arlie Rauch wrote:
>Anyway, I was not satisfied when I left.  I seem to remember a 
>similar situation on one piano some years ago, but I do not remember 
>what the fix was.  Has anyone had a similar experience?  How can 
>this situation on this piano be corrected?

Well, Arlie, I'd start by removing the hammer butts. Yes, clear'em 
out of the way because you need unobstructed access to the damper 
wires and felts, to be able to really fix this damper set. It will be 
a learning experience, but not likely one you should even consider 
asking the customer to pay for.

The sad fact is that after all of this blind bending (yes the hammer 
butts were in the way), you're going to have to restore the original 
"line" of damper blocks. That's done by skillful damper bending. But 
you'd be amazed how much more skillful you can be with the butts and 
rail out of the way.

Along the way, you may decide that the original damper felts are not 
up to the job. That's when you may decide that your thankful to the 
Piano Technicians Guild for its Journal reprints, as well as the 
reprints offered by Bill Spurlock.

I've had a similar experience but not involving upright dampers.

Bill Ballard RPT
NH Chapter, P.T.G.

"There's a difference between 'involved' and 'committed.' When 
providing ham and eggs for breakfast, the hen is involved. The pig is 
committed."
     ...........(Milo Sturgis in Jonathan Kellerman's novel "Self-Defense")
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