Pianotech

  • 1.  Upright Bass Damper Recommendation

    Posted 06-10-2019 17:51
    I have a customer with a 33 year old Steinway K upright in very good condition. The bass dampers do not function well and allow the bass strings to sympathetically vibrate to a rather unpleasant degree. The spring tension seems adequate. I'm guessing that the original small bass dampers have started to harden a bit and are just no longer doing their job (I wonder how well those tiny dampers worked originally?).

    My thinking is that I'll recommend replacing the bass dampers felts with the nice long bass dampers that Jurgen at PianoForte Supply sells. And I'm also wondering about the brass damper blocks he sells. I've never used them, but I wonder if it would not be wise to use them here to make sure the bass strings get adequate dampening. I'd hate to install new damper felt and then find that I wish I had installed brass damper blocks also.

    Opinions? Anyone with direct experience with the S&S K?

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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  • 2.  RE: Upright Bass Damper Recommendation

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-11-2019 09:25
    Greetings Mr. Farrell

    Jurgen's 421550 set is very similar (identical?) to what Steinway is using now on the model K. 33 yrs ago would be very soon after the K was re-introduced. Yours could have a Renner or a Herrberger-Brooks Action I think. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have a Pratt-Read action but if it does that would explain the too small dampers. Last summer I re-strung and re-dampered a model 100 console and by increasing the length and weight of the dampers greatly reduced it's inherent "echo". If I were in your place I'd show Pianoforte some love and save myself some time and head scratching. Does yours have over dampers on 27 and 28?

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    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Upright Bass Damper Recommendation

    Posted 06-11-2019 18:38
      |   view attached
    Karl R. asked: "Does yours have over dampers on 27 and 28?"

    And 29 - as in the picture below? The picture is from another newer K that I service. The K in question here does not have any of the over-dampers in the low tenor.


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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Upright Bass Damper Recommendation

    Posted 06-11-2019 19:56
    Just because I have David Kirklands book handy, Model K Re introduced 6/9/1981 after the first iteration 1903-1930,  and the 40'' Model 100 made from 1953-1971 and it's first iteration as Model 40 was 1939-1954.

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    Martin Snow
    South Burlington VT
    617-543-1030
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Upright Bass Damper Recommendation

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-12-2019 15:22
    Personally, I would not replace dampers on any upright without switching to brass damper barrels. They are most useful through the bass and, possibly, the first couple of tenor dampers. They don't do much beyond that.

    If the original action used damper blocks of a decent size it is sometimes possible to achieve similar results by drilling holes and inserting lead wire. Anything to add some mass to the system.

    Simply increasing damper spring tensions does not help, it just makes the piano harder to play.

    ddf

    --
    Delwin D Fandrich
    Fandrich Piano Company, Inc.
    Piano Design and Manufacturing Consulting Services -- Worldwide
    6939 Foothill Ct SW -- Olympia, WA 98512 -- USA
    Phone 360.515.0119 -- Mobile 360.388.6525



    Original Message