Pianotech

  • 1.  Yamaha damper tray head scratcher

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-09-2021 07:27

    List

    Ran into a head scratcher today that I couldn't provide a good resolve for. Yamaha GH1, with a Pianodisc player unit.  The normal revamping of the pedal system had been done by someone in the past.  Internally, the bass end damper tray ( on the far bass side) lags behind when the sustain pedal is engaged. There's no sostenuto on this design, so originally the middle pedal simply sustains the bass dampers only. The dowel that originally supported the middle of the bass damper tray had been eliminated. Now the only lifting point is coming from the far-right side, which is driven by the main damper tray.  All damper tray flanges are in tack and holding the trays firmly in place, so it's not that.

    When I first came to the piano, the far bass side dampers weren't lifting at all. So, the easy resolve would be to regulate dampers to even up the lift. I did that, but then the last dampers ended up sitting high and not seated on the string. Dang! I went back and worth re-regulating those bottom 10 dampers and could not find a reasonable resolve.

    Anyone else run into this conundrum?

    At this point, I'm thinking one resolve would be to slightly shave the height of the key end felt to compensate for this scenario.  Any ideas?

     

    Tom Servinsky 

    Registered Piano Technician

    Concert Artist Piano Technician

    Director/Conductor- Academy Orchestra

    Managing Conductor-Treasure Coast Youth Symphony

    Clarinetist-Atlantic Classical Orchestra

    tompiano@tomservinsky.com

    Website: tomservinsky.com

    772 221 1011 office

    772 260 7110 cell

     



  • 2.  RE: Yamaha damper tray head scratcher

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-09-2021 08:00
    Not with Piano Disc, but ran into this same situation where the bass damper tray flange was loose.

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    Larry Messerly, RPT
    Bringing Harmony to Homes
    www.lacrossepianotuning.com
    ljmesserly@gmail.com
    928-899-7292
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  • 3.  RE: Yamaha damper tray head scratcher

    Posted 11-09-2021 09:38
    If it's the tray flange. Release the tray pivot blocks from the belly and slide the tray forwards. With a long Phillips screw driver, tighten the flange screws. Slide the tray back and secure the pivot blocks.  If you are real lucky, you can access the flange screws without moving the whole tray. Tighten the treble flange while you're at it.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 4.  RE: Yamaha damper tray head scratcher

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-09-2021 09:42
    It's not loose tray flanges. Did that already 


    Tom Servinsky
    Registered Piano Technician
    Concert Artist Piano Technician
    Director/Conductor- Academy Orchestra
    Assist. Conductor-Treasure Coast Youth Symphony
    Clarinetist-Atlantic Classical Orchestra
    772 221 1011 office
    772 260 7110 cell





  • 5.  RE: Yamaha damper tray head scratcher

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-09-2021 09:02
    I don't think you can regulate this to solve the problem.  The fact that the pitman is off center, plus the natural flex of the damper tray(s) is going to torpedo any adjustments you could make.  You could try putting a spring on the treble side of the damper tray, which would counteract the flexing of the tray.
    Good luck.

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    Paul McCloud, RPT
    Accutone Piano Service
    www.AccutonePianoService.com
    pavadasa@gmail.com
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  • 6.  RE: Yamaha damper tray head scratcher

    Posted 11-09-2021 10:12
    I have a piano with a two part tray. Middle pedal operates the bass. The treble tray section bears on the bass section when the sustain pedal is engaged. I needed to shim the bearing point to get the bass dampers to lift earlier.

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    Floyd Gadd
    Regina SK
    306-502-9103
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