Pianotech

Greetings,
I recently tuned a Kawai/Howard grand, serial #290538​, that had marginal damping. Not sure of the year, but maybe late 60s?

One bass bichord refuses to damp quickly. I messed with it for a while, checked for good contact and proper motion. The felt seems to be in good condition, and I lubed the wire.

One thing I noticed was that the damper underlevers are plastic, and although weighted, don't seem to have a lot of weight. Next time I visit I may try sticking a small binder clip on somewhere to see if that helps. It's in a faculty office in a community college, and they basically have zero budget for any extra work. I would like to make it better, though, if even to make the prof happy and satisfy myself.

Any other suggestions? Are these pianos with plastic damper systems known for poor damping?

thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

I have found the bushings on plastic under levers to be tight on occasion. It would be worth applying some lube to those to see if that helps.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal
Honolulu HI
808-521-7129
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2022 11:26
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Kawai/Howard poor damping

Greetings,
I recently tuned a Kawai/Howard grand, serial #290538​, that had marginal damping. Not sure of the year, but maybe late 60s?

One bass bichord refuses to damp quickly. I messed with it for a while, checked for good contact and proper motion. The felt seems to be in good condition, and I lubed the wire.

One thing I noticed was that the damper underlevers are plastic, and although weighted, don't seem to have a lot of weight. Next time I visit I may try sticking a small binder clip on somewhere to see if that helps. It's in a faculty office in a community college, and they basically have zero budget for any extra work. I would like to make it better, though, if even to make the prof happy and satisfy myself.

Any other suggestions? Are these pianos with plastic damper systems known for poor damping?

thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

I think your year is 1967, going by Kawai serial numbers.  I would encourage you to see if the flange pinning on the underlever has too much friction.  I ran into that on a Yamaha grand from the 70's just before Christmas.

------------------------------
Floyd Gadd
Regina SK
306-502-9103
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2022 11:26
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Kawai/Howard poor damping

Greetings,
I recently tuned a Kawai/Howard grand, serial #290538​, that had marginal damping. Not sure of the year, but maybe late 60s?

One bass bichord refuses to damp quickly. I messed with it for a while, checked for good contact and proper motion. The felt seems to be in good condition, and I lubed the wire.

One thing I noticed was that the damper underlevers are plastic, and although weighted, don't seem to have a lot of weight. Next time I visit I may try sticking a small binder clip on somewhere to see if that helps. It's in a faculty office in a community college, and they basically have zero budget for any extra work. I would like to make it better, though, if even to make the prof happy and satisfy myself.

Any other suggestions? Are these pianos with plastic damper systems known for poor damping?

thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

I would check the friction and if it is too tight/high unpin ream and burnish repin. Lubrication may work in the short term but not last. Check the angle of the damper wire to make sure it is not hanging up on the damper wire bushing, add a little teflon there. Another tip is to use a mirror to check the seating on the backside of the damper it may look good from the front. There also could be an issue with the pitman not seated right and not enough lost motion in the sustain pedal . Finally the damper wires may not be totally seated in the flanges . Karen Robinson wrote some excellent articles in the PTG Journal and used to teach a great class.

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2022 12:40
From: Floyd Gadd
Subject: Kawai/Howard poor damping

I think your year is 1967, going by Kawai serial numbers.  I would encourage you to see if the flange pinning on the underlever has too much friction.  I ran into that on a Yamaha grand from the 70's just before Christmas.

------------------------------
Floyd Gadd
Regina SK
306-502-9103

Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2022 11:26
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Kawai/Howard poor damping

Greetings,
I recently tuned a Kawai/Howard grand, serial #290538​, that had marginal damping. Not sure of the year, but maybe late 60s?

One bass bichord refuses to damp quickly. I messed with it for a while, checked for good contact and proper motion. The felt seems to be in good condition, and I lubed the wire.

One thing I noticed was that the damper underlevers are plastic, and although weighted, don't seem to have a lot of weight. Next time I visit I may try sticking a small binder clip on somewhere to see if that helps. It's in a faculty office in a community college, and they basically have zero budget for any extra work. I would like to make it better, though, if even to make the prof happy and satisfy myself.

Any other suggestions? Are these pianos with plastic damper systems known for poor damping?

thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Make sure the strings are level.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2022 12:55
From: James Kelly
Subject: Kawai/Howard poor damping

I would check the friction and if it is too tight/high unpin ream and burnish repin. Lubrication may work in the short term but not last. Check the angle of the damper wire to make sure it is not hanging up on the damper wire bushing, add a little teflon there. Another tip is to use a mirror to check the seating on the backside of the damper it may look good from the front. There also could be an issue with the pitman not seated right and not enough lost motion in the sustain pedal . Finally the damper wires may not be totally seated in the flanges . Karen Robinson wrote some excellent articles in the PTG Journal and used to teach a great class.

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357

Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2022 12:40
From: Floyd Gadd
Subject: Kawai/Howard poor damping

I think your year is 1967, going by Kawai serial numbers.  I would encourage you to see if the flange pinning on the underlever has too much friction.  I ran into that on a Yamaha grand from the 70's just before Christmas.

------------------------------
Floyd Gadd
Regina SK
306-502-9103

Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2022 11:26
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Kawai/Howard poor damping

Greetings,
I recently tuned a Kawai/Howard grand, serial #290538​, that had marginal damping. Not sure of the year, but maybe late 60s?

One bass bichord refuses to damp quickly. I messed with it for a while, checked for good contact and proper motion. The felt seems to be in good condition, and I lubed the wire.

One thing I noticed was that the damper underlevers are plastic, and although weighted, don't seem to have a lot of weight. Next time I visit I may try sticking a small binder clip on somewhere to see if that helps. It's in a faculty office in a community college, and they basically have zero budget for any extra work. I would like to make it better, though, if even to make the prof happy and satisfy myself.

Any other suggestions? Are these pianos with plastic damper systems known for poor damping?

thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

When you write that the underlevers don’t seem to have much weight, how did you determine that, Scott?

Bob Anderson
Tucson, AZ 85711


Original Message:
Sent: 3/3/2022 11:26:00 AM
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Kawai/Howard poor damping

Greetings,
I recently tuned a Kawai/Howard grand, serial #290538​, that had marginal damping. Not sure of the year, but maybe late 60s?

One bass bichord refuses to damp quickly. I messed with it for a while, checked for good contact and proper motion. The felt seems to be in good condition, and I lubed the wire.

One thing I noticed was that the damper underlevers are plastic, and although weighted, don't seem to have a lot of weight. Next time I visit I may try sticking a small binder clip on somewhere to see if that helps. It's in a faculty office in a community college, and they basically have zero budget for any extra work. I would like to make it better, though, if even to make the prof happy and satisfy myself.

Any other suggestions? Are these pianos with plastic damper systems known for poor damping?

thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Bob,
Just an entirely intuitive, non-scientific finger test. The lever+damper just didn't seem to have any weight.
Next time I see the piano, I'll try some lube on the damper flanges.

Thanks for the replies everyone. 
Scott

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-04-2022 10:25
From: Robert Anderson
Subject: Kawai/Howard poor damping

When you write that the underlevers don't seem to have much weight, how did you determine that, Scott?

Bob Anderson
Tucson, AZ 85711


Original Message:
Sent: 3/3/2022 11:26:00 AM
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Kawai/Howard poor damping

Greetings,
I recently tuned a Kawai/Howard grand, serial #290538​, that had marginal damping. Not sure of the year, but maybe late 60s?

One bass bichord refuses to damp quickly. I messed with it for a while, checked for good contact and proper motion. The felt seems to be in good condition, and I lubed the wire.

One thing I noticed was that the damper underlevers are plastic, and although weighted, don't seem to have a lot of weight. Next time I visit I may try sticking a small binder clip on somewhere to see if that helps. It's in a faculty office in a community college, and they basically have zero budget for any extra work. I would like to make it better, though, if even to make the prof happy and satisfy myself.

Any other suggestions? Are these pianos with plastic damper systems known for poor damping?

thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------