Pianotech

I am restringing a Yamaha G3. The piano existed for years right on the ocean in Malibu.
It's now in the Sierras where it's dry. 
There was a fine white powdery mold or mildew on a few of the bass dampers. The owner doesn't think it's a problem.
I did mention the new bass wire might not be the same as the old and the dampers might not work 100%

I was thinking of a light spray of profelt, wipe them down and vacuum and brush gently.
What could go wrong?

------------------------------
Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
(209) 770-4312
------------------------------

I tried using the old dampers on a restring and they left discoloration on the copper. Needless to say I changed them out (had to re-do the bass strings anyway due to a different issue). I will not do that again. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2022 10:47
From: Keith Roberts
Subject: Cleaning dampers

I am restringing a Yamaha G3. The piano existed for years right on the ocean in Malibu.
It's now in the Sierras where it's dry.
There was a fine white powdery mold or mildew on a few of the bass dampers. The owner doesn't think it's a problem.
I did mention the new bass wire might not be the same as the old and the dampers might not work 100%

I was thinking of a light spray of profelt, wipe them down and vacuum and brush gently.
What could go wrong?

------------------------------
Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
(209) 770-4312
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 7/12/2022 10:47:00 AM
From: Keith Roberts
Subject: Cleaning dampers

I am restringing a Yamaha G3. The piano existed for years right on the ocean in Malibu.
It's now in the Sierras where it's dry. 
There was a fine white powdery mold or mildew on a few of the bass dampers. The owner doesn't think it's a problem.
I did mention the new bass wire might not be the same as the old and the dampers might not work 100%

I was thinking of a light spray of profelt, wipe them down and vacuum and brush gently.
What could go wrong?

------------------------------
Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
(209) 770-4312
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 7/12/2022 10:47:00 AM
From: Keith Roberts
Subject: Cleaning dampers

I am restringing a Yamaha G3. The piano existed for years right on the ocean in Malibu.
It's now in the Sierras where it's dry. 
There was a fine white powdery mold or mildew on a few of the bass dampers. The owner doesn't think it's a problem.
I did mention the new bass wire might not be the same as the old and the dampers might not work 100%

I was thinking of a light spray of profelt, wipe them down and vacuum and brush gently.
What could go wrong?

------------------------------
Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
(209) 770-4312
------------------------------

Ultimately the problem will be that the imprints of the old windings in the felt will not match the new windings, and this will compromise their performance. You are likely to have inconsistent damping ability and no adjustment will improve it. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2022 12:18
From: Paul Williams
Subject: Cleaning dampers

But do they damp properly?  It's not a huge project to replace dampers, really.  If only bass dampers, suggest replacing just them?

 

If there is moldy issues in the rest, then, you might have a problem...

Paul

Original Message:
Sent: 7/12/2022 10:47:00 AM
From: Keith Roberts
Subject: Cleaning dampers

I am restringing a Yamaha G3. The piano existed for years right on the ocean in Malibu.
It's now in the Sierras where it's dry.
There was a fine white powdery mold or mildew on a few of the bass dampers. The owner doesn't think it's a problem.
I did mention the new bass wire might not be the same as the old and the dampers might not work 100%

I was thinking of a light spray of profelt, wipe them down and vacuum and brush gently.
What could go wrong?

------------------------------
Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
(209) 770-4312
------------------------------

FUHGETABOUTIT ... now is the time to do the job right and not cut corners. You will probably go out of your mind trying to regulate all of the leaking dampers since the felts have settled in, have been exposed to damp/moist air and have some mildew/mold. I had to refelt all of the dampers on a poorly rebuilt piano on which the damper felt was way too wide. What a nightmare . No amount of trimming, adjusting, squeezing worked. Once I got the proper size new damper felt -which the hack rebuilder should have done- the damper system worked fine.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2022 14:39
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Cleaning dampers

Ultimately the problem will be that the imprints of the old windings in the felt will not match the new windings, and this will compromise their performance. You are likely to have inconsistent damping ability and no adjustment will improve it.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2022 12:18
From: Paul Williams
Subject: Cleaning dampers

But do they damp properly?  It's not a huge project to replace dampers, really.  If only bass dampers, suggest replacing just them?

 

If there is moldy issues in the rest, then, you might have a problem...

Paul

Original Message:
Sent: 7/12/2022 10:47:00 AM
From: Keith Roberts
Subject: Cleaning dampers

I am restringing a Yamaha G3. The piano existed for years right on the ocean in Malibu.
It's now in the Sierras where it's dry.
There was a fine white powdery mold or mildew on a few of the bass dampers. The owner doesn't think it's a problem.
I did mention the new bass wire might not be the same as the old and the dampers might not work 100%

I was thinking of a light spray of profelt, wipe them down and vacuum and brush gently.
What could go wrong?

------------------------------
Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
(209) 770-4312
------------------------------

I agree. In my experience, replacing dampers is just about as easy as trying to regulate them. Especially if you have new strings. It doesn't add but a few extra dollars and an hour or two to the job, so I would just bid accordingly. In the long run, you will be happy you did, I promise.

------------------------------
Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
Piano Technician / Artisan
(256) 947-9999
www.professional-piano-services.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2022 18:46
From: James Kelly
Subject: Cleaning dampers

FUHGETABOUTIT ... now is the time to do the job right and not cut corners. You will probably go out of your mind trying to regulate all of the leaking dampers since the felts have settled in, have been exposed to damp/moist air and have some mildew/mold. I had to refelt all of the dampers on a poorly rebuilt piano on which the damper felt was way too wide. What a nightmare . No amount of trimming, adjusting, squeezing worked. Once I got the proper size new damper felt -which the hack rebuilder should have done- the damper system worked fine.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2022 14:39
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Cleaning dampers

Ultimately the problem will be that the imprints of the old windings in the felt will not match the new windings, and this will compromise their performance. You are likely to have inconsistent damping ability and no adjustment will improve it.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2022 12:18
From: Paul Williams
Subject: Cleaning dampers

But do they damp properly?  It's not a huge project to replace dampers, really.  If only bass dampers, suggest replacing just them?

 

If there is moldy issues in the rest, then, you might have a problem...

Paul

Original Message:
Sent: 7/12/2022 10:47:00 AM
From: Keith Roberts
Subject: Cleaning dampers

I am restringing a Yamaha G3. The piano existed for years right on the ocean in Malibu.
It's now in the Sierras where it's dry.
There was a fine white powdery mold or mildew on a few of the bass dampers. The owner doesn't think it's a problem.
I did mention the new bass wire might not be the same as the old and the dampers might not work 100%

I was thinking of a light spray of profelt, wipe them down and vacuum and brush gently.
What could go wrong?

------------------------------
Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
(209) 770-4312
------------------------------