Pianotech

  • 1.  Grand Dampers Going Whoosh

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-20-2020 09:22

    Howdy everyone

     

    I visited a customer with a Yamaha G5 who doesn't like the whooshing sound the trichord wedges make when she uses the sustain pedal.  Other people in her household don't really notice it, so it's not a glaring problem, but she would really like to make it disappear.  Has anyone ever trimmed trichords to the string line to eliminate this?  Any potential pitfalls?



  • 2.  RE: Grand Dampers Going Whoosh

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-20-2020 12:55
    I routinely trim damper felt upon installation so that the trichord split dampers are not extending below the string plane.  That will solve the problem and if you do that when you install new dampers the problem won't develop.  The only caution is to not cut them too short and be fairly accurate to make sure they are cut the same length.  When they've been in the piano for awhile you'll have a clear mark on the felt where they were resting on the strings so just cut everything off below the string plane.  Use sharp scissors.  If you get leaking on the outer strings make sure that you have something inserted in the split to just slightly spread the felt, piece of kite string works well.  Since it's only the trichord dampers it really doesn't take that long.  You'll have to reregulate the damper timing but if you have a regulation platform it goes fast.

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    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
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  • 3.  RE: Grand Dampers Going Whoosh

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-20-2020 14:25
    Loren

    The reason of the whoosh is the small amount of "crud" on the felt, caused by humidity. Instead of trimming the felt, as David suggested, you might try to file the sides of the felt using an Emory Board. Be very careful, and put one side of the felt on a solid surface while you file the other side.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 4.  RE: Grand Dampers Going Whoosh

    Posted 05-20-2020 15:38
    Not only trim the felt to just below the wires, trim the leading edges. Very sharp scissors are needed. Hair cutting scissors are available for Jurgen.

    Also slice up into the wedge with a single-edge razor blade.  If the front trichord extends beyond G4, trim to 10 cm in width (lengthwise). Shorter closer to the strut. Noise can come from felt of too great of length.  When installing new, I taper from mid 4th octave. 

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 5.  RE: Grand Dampers Going Whoosh

    Posted 05-20-2020 16:15
      |   view attached
    Whooshing dampers is a common problem and trimming the tri-chords is an effective and permanent fix. 
    A good pair of scissors is a must-have tool for anyone doing advanced piano work.

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    Jurgen Goering
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  • 6.  RE: Grand Dampers Going Whoosh

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-21-2020 00:37

    I was just going to suggest your scissors, Jurgen! 

    Loren, you can borrow mine if you need to do this in the next day or two. I'm not working until early June. Hoping we'll be cleared to work with the Phase 2 group. 

    Dave 



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    Dave Davis, RPT
    Renton, WA
    dave@davispiano.com
    425-221-1320
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