CAUT

  • 1.  S&S damper spoons

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-27-2020 18:09
    Hello all,
    Anyone have any insight and experiences with a reliable, and (relatively) hassle free way to adjust those dratted old Steinway upright damper spoons that arc around the wipp flange screws?  Is it possible to do it in the piano?
    Thanks so much for anything you have to share!

    Greg Granoff RPT
    Humboldt State U.


  • 2.  RE: S&S damper spoons

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-27-2020 19:33
    It's been many years, but as I recall, the spoons were probably threaded into the wippen rather than having fluted bottoms. Hence, the spoon wanted to rotate rather than bend. I prefer doing spoons in the piano, but if faced with that design I'd probably do outside. 

    Get good even lift from the pedal. Measure the distance from the hammer rail (edge just before the felt) to sample damper heads (I use a narrow 6" rule, put the end of the rule in the slot of the screw of the damper head, record the measurement).

    Then, with action on the bench, wedge under the lift rod to recreate those distances. Wedge the hammer rail forward to advance the hammers to a midway point. Bend each spoon so its hammer and damper begin to move simultaneously.






  • 3.  RE: S&S damper spoons

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-30-2020 21:31
    Thanks so much, Fred!    It was as I suspected, but really appreciate the review on technique.
    Greg

    Greg Granoff RPT






  • 4.  RE: S&S damper spoons

    Posted 03-30-2020 22:16
    To set the hammer distance for half-blow, insert a few mutes under the rail to set the distance. Mark with pen or tape on the wedge. Once the damper lift rod is set from the hammer rail, insert the mutes under the rail to the index.

    Thanks Fred, that's a better method than I used to do by wedging the lift rail, lifting the wippen and eyeballing the half-blow to set spoon/damper lift. Now I do it all in the piano by setting an even pedal lift and wedge the hammer rail. Then brace the damper lever with the narrow spoon tool between the keys and press the key down for the lever to bend the spoon. They usually are too soon to lift. The narrow tool allows Zen-like access to bend the spoons if the spoon is bent too much.  Consoles mostly. For spinets and uprights I use the long, bent spoon regulation tools.
    20 to 40 minutes to set the lift. Same time to adjust the spoons.

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

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



  • 5.  RE: S&S damper spoons

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-30-2020 22:25
    Jon,
    It is easier to regulate spoons in the piano if you remove the keys. That way you get easy access under the wippens, especially to move the tool from one wippen to the next. In very compact consoles, it’s still a challenge, and the tool may need to be custom bent (almost certainly will need to be). Some designs, with dogleg keys and the like, really have to be done out of the piano.

    I see some where the dampers lift before the jack contacts the butt leather. Obviously the spoons were never touched in the factory.

    Fred Sturm
    fssturm@comcast.net
    www.artoftuning.com
    http://fredsturm.net
    "Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." -Gustav Mahler




  • 6.  RE: S&S damper spoons

    Posted 03-30-2020 22:32
    Yes, all my reverse-bend spoon tools are custom bent.  So's my straight capstan wrench.

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

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



  • 7.  RE: S&S damper spoons

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-31-2020 10:11
    Jon

    A quick video/technical - show and tell about custom bent tools would be a great addition to PTG online Academy. Might even be a good T&T article for Journal :)

    Just sayin'

     

     

    http://bit.ly/Schedule_My_Piano

     

    "Good, better, best; never let it rest, 'til the good is better and better best!"


    "Providing quality service for the world's pianos"

     

    Join us: 63nd ANNUAL PTG CONVENTION & TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
    Doubletree Orlando at Seaworld

    July 29-Aug 1, 2020

     

    George W.R. "Bill" Davis, RPT, SERVP

    The Piano Place GA

    2315 Rocky Mountain Rd NE

    Marietta GA 30066

    www.pianoplace.net

    bill@pianoplace.net


    Sent from my iPhone





  • 8.  RE: S&S damper spoons

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-01-2020 11:06
    "Might even be a good T&T article for Journal :)"

    What he said...





  • 9.  RE: S&S damper spoons

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-02-2020 13:50
    I like the idea of a  mini-technical on the old S&S damper spoons.  It's nearly impossible to bend them if they are twisting.   How about using super glue to glue them in place?  Or maybe epoxy?  Inquiring minds want to know.
    Joy!
    Elwood

    ------------------------------
    Elwood Doss
    Martin TN
    731-587-5700
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: S&S damper spoons

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-31-2020 07:42
    This would make a great mini tech video for the PTG online academy. You could even do a power point with video and audio insertion to slides. 

     

     

    http://bit.ly/Schedule_My_Piano

     

    "Good, better, best; never let it rest, 'til the good is better and better best!"


    "Providing quality service for the world's pianos"

     

    Join us: 63nd ANNUAL PTG CONVENTION & TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
    Doubletree Orlando at Seaworld

    July 29-Aug 1, 2020

     

    George W.R. "Bill" Davis, RPT, SERVP

    The Piano Place GA

    2315 Rocky Mountain Rd NE

    Marietta GA 30066

    www.pianoplace.net

    bill@pianoplace.net


    Sent from my iPhone