[pianotech] Damper Felt

[David Love]

What do you mean by sideways rigidity?  I have always thought of horizontal
(grain running parallel to the strings) as having greater stability but
somewhat noisier (greater tendency to develop sizzling), and vertical as
having less stability but having better damping characteristics. 

I don't know if what we get is better or not.  Getting quality felt is
always a challenge.    

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com

>Preferences: horizontal cut or vertical cut--why?

In principle I have always preferred horizontal because the felts 
have less sideways rigidity, but the problem with some horizontal 
strips is that the felting is too loose. For nearly all work now I 
buy horizontal Yamaha strips.  These are more expensive but the 
quality is very good.  For Steinways I generally use the hugely 
expensive original sets.  I've just paid $185 + postage + 20% tax for 
a set for Model M but the quality is pretty good and what I spend for 
the pre-cut set I saver in labour.  Steinway, as you know, have 
always used horizontal bass felts.

I don't think it can really be said that one style is better than the 
other but the quality of the felt is very important and I am not 
satisfied with either the German or the French strips that most 
people use over here.  Perhaps in America you have more variety and 
better quality.

JD