I have a client who has a 20 or 30-year-old Conn console. Not a great piano originally, but in excellent condition. Except for the darn frog that croaks every time you release the sustain pedal.
I'm trying to figure out what the cause is. As often the case, the cause seems to be elusive.
It's not the pedal itself - clearly, the noise is up at the action level - no mistake about that.
It's not the rod - I flipped it 180 degree and same croak. I even swapped out the pseudo-sostenuto rod with the sustain rod and same croak. I installed new felt and rubber ends on the sustain trap rod - same croak.
I lubed all the damper lifter rod action centers with Protek. That seemed to make the frog go away for a few days, but then it returned.
The croak sounds like it is coming from the far treble end of the action.
I replaced the treble-most damper lift rod action center - same croak.
I am looking for ideas on what else it could be.
Probably one or more of the other damper lift rod action centers???
I'm thinking that the next step should be to replace all six damper lift rod centers, polish the damper lift rod and to brush micro-fine teflon power on all the damper lift felts (the felt on the lower part of each damper lever).
What else could possibly cause the croak? The damper springs? The damper action centers? Those are the only other moving parts - right? I don't think it really could be either of these latter items. What else?
Thanks for any thoughts.
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Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com813-684-3505
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