Pianotech

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

Hi Jonathan:

Two thoughts.  First, if you press on the strings, do the dampers move along with the strings?  That would confirm if the dampers are pressing on the strings.  Check the damper pedal to see if it's got enough free play when it's not being used.  The pedal should move about 1/4" inch before any damper movement.  Do the hammers go halfway to the strings before damper movement?  You said the regulation is good, but you know I have to ask specifics.

If all of this is good, pluck the individual strings involved.  Are some of the strings ringing while the others don't?  Or is it a consistent ringing for all the strings?  

The second thought is that the dampers are not sufficient to dampen the strings.  Either they are too short or they're sitting on nodes of the strings.  You've seen some pianos that have an extra piece of felt on a wire above the damper line to suppress any ringing.  Old Steinway uprights have them.  If all of these notes are similar in their ringing, it may be a design problem.  You might visit the dealer where they bought it and see if it happens on other pianos of that model.  You might also call Kawai and ask their service department if they are aware of the problem, and have suggestions to fix it.

Good luck.

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

I have found that, typically the ringing is from another string.  With clean hands press on sections of the strings and see if you can find the loose damper (often in the bass) and tweak that one.

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

FYI, if you do contact Kawai, they are making changes to their service system. Below is an email I received from them a week or so ago.

Also, I should think that this is a warrantee job.

• Warranty repairs and claim questions
• Acoustic and digital troubleshooting
• Parts orders and availability
• Return and exchange processes
• Updates on existing service tickets
• General assistance and communication related to field repairs

I have found that, typically the ringing is from another string.  With clean hands press on sections of the strings and see if you can find the loose damper (often in the bass) and tweak that one.

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

I'm assuming that you have made sure that the action brackets are fastened tightly to the plate?

FYI, if you do contact Kawai, they are making changes to their service system. Below is an email I received from them a week or so ago.

Also, I should think that this is a warrantee job.

• Warranty repairs and claim questions
• Acoustic and digital troubleshooting
• Parts orders and availability
• Return and exchange processes
• Updates on existing service tickets
• General assistance and communication related to field repairs

I have found that, typically the ringing is from another string.  With clean hands press on sections of the strings and see if you can find the loose damper (often in the bass) and tweak that one.

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

I have found that, typically the ringing is from another string.  With clean hands press on sections of the strings and see if you can find the loose damper (often in the bass) and tweak that one.

------------------------------
Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 390-0512

Original Message:
Sent: 12-15-2025 23:04
From: Jonathan Saunders
Subject: high partials ringing

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

------------------------------
Jonathan Saunders
Bartlett TN
(901) 499-8589
------------------------------

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

Edit...

I mean B3-D#4. Some days I can count better than others.

------------------------------
Jonathan Saunders
Bartlett TN
(901) 499-8589
------------------------------

Hi Jonathan,

It could be a damper issue, as others have pointed out, but it sounds to me like a node problem. Certain pianos, especially Bostons (also built by Kawai), have this issue due to how the plates are manufactured. The only way I've found to truly treat this is to glue on an additional piece of damper felt on the offending damper. You may have to remove and reposition one of the original pieces of felt in order to do this. Usually, adding this extra piece of felt will be sufficient to stop those higher partials from unwanted activity.

Of course, if you can solve the problem by normal damper adjustment, that would be the easiest way. But I have a feeling you'll probably have to glue on some more felt in order to address it as fully as possible. 

Feel free to reach out to me privately and I can send you some more information if you'd like. 

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

Edit...

I mean B3-D#4. Some days I can count better than others.

------------------------------
Jonathan Saunders
Bartlett TN
(901) 499-8589
------------------------------

> sounds to me like a node problem... ...due to how the plates are manufactured

Can you explain that? Do you mean the damper is touching the string at a node that doesn't allow dampening of that frequency, or that the piano is resonating that frequency, or something else? Thanks!

Hi Jonathan,

It could be a damper issue, as others have pointed out, but it sounds to me like a node problem. Certain pianos, especially Bostons (also built by Kawai), have this issue due to how the plates are manufactured. The only way I've found to truly treat this is to glue on an additional piece of damper felt on the offending damper. You may have to remove and reposition one of the original pieces of felt in order to do this. Usually, adding this extra piece of felt will be sufficient to stop those higher partials from unwanted activity.

Of course, if you can solve the problem by normal damper adjustment, that would be the easiest way. But I have a feeling you'll probably have to glue on some more felt in order to address it as fully as possible. 

Feel free to reach out to me privately and I can send you some more information if you'd like. 

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

Edit...

I mean B3-D#4. Some days I can count better than others.

------------------------------
Jonathan Saunders
Bartlett TN
(901) 499-8589
------------------------------

> sounds to me like a node problem... ...due to how the plates are manufactured

Can you explain that? Do you mean the damper is touching the string at a node that doesn't allow dampening of that frequency, or that the piano is resonating that frequency, or something else? Thanks!

Hi Jonathan,

It could be a damper issue, as others have pointed out, but it sounds to me like a node problem. Certain pianos, especially Bostons (also built by Kawai), have this issue due to how the plates are manufactured. The only way I've found to truly treat this is to glue on an additional piece of damper felt on the offending damper. You may have to remove and reposition one of the original pieces of felt in order to do this. Usually, adding this extra piece of felt will be sufficient to stop those higher partials from unwanted activity.

Of course, if you can solve the problem by normal damper adjustment, that would be the easiest way. But I have a feeling you'll probably have to glue on some more felt in order to address it as fully as possible. 

Feel free to reach out to me privately and I can send you some more information if you'd like. 

Hi. Today, a Kawai K-15E, new this year... on several notes B2-D#4 when the damper came back to rest on the strings, the 6th partial would continue to ring for a bit while the rest of the tone was damped pretty immediately. Damper regulation looks good. The customer can hear it and is complaining about it. Why does this happen, and only on the notes in that range, and what can be done about it? Thanks.

Edit...

I mean B3-D#4. Some days I can count better than others.

------------------------------
Jonathan Saunders
Bartlett TN
(901) 499-8589
------------------------------