Pianotech

I am new to the PTG (1 year) and this is my first post.

Client has a 1983 Steinway model 1098 45" Studio Upright (with Sostenuto).

First question:  The client commented about an "echo-y" sound when striking a key in the mid-tenor.  I found that there is reverb/ringing at the frequency of the note struck and released.  I further found that this reverb can be greatly reduced or eliminated if I simply put my hand on the base strings.  It seems that each single and bi-chord note is activated if the tenor note I strike is one of it's partials.  Makes sense - except the dampers appear to be properly set on all the bass strings.  I can press each base string and see the damper following it.  How would you address this?  Is it a matter of regulating the bass dampers so that they are pressing harder on the strings?  Should I 'rough up' the dampers a bit so they make more contact with the strings?  Or is there something else going on?

Second question (unrelated to the first I assume) is less important than the first since I am the only one who notices it:  The sostenuto feature works well in all ways but one - when you release the sostenuto pedal, even slowly, all the notes held are released somewhat far from the strings, which make an audible 'thump' when they snap back to the strings.  I have not yet taken a look at the sostenuto feature in the action to see if I can figure out how to regulate it.  Does anyone have any suggestions?   I Plan to return later this week.

Thanks!

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John Nicolson
Evanston IL
(847) 644-0811
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John,

This is not an isolated problem. It largely originates from the fact that upright dampers are impossible to locate in the ideal location. Then, if the piano is particularly resonant, the problem you describe appears. Oddly enough, increased spring pressure will likely exacerbate the problem, and they may already be too strong (enhancing the problem). 

A well known fix is to replace the damper barrels with brass ones, increasing mass without increasing pressure (that's somewhat involved though). Changing the physical position (up or down) of the dampers can sometimes alleviate some of that sympathetic triggering (that's also not the easiest thing to do). Weaving felt between the bass strings near the bridge is something I've seen some do. Isolating the piano from the floor can sometimes help a little. 

The bottom line is that the problem probably cannot be "eliminated", but it can be reduced. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

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Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-12-2026 14:35
From: Wim Blees
Subject: Steinway upright has "reverb"

John

The "echo" that you might be caused by all the dampers not being seated properly on the strings. Press the sustain pedal and see how much "lost motion" there is in the pedal before the dampers come off the strings. If they are coming off immediately, that means the damper pedal needs to be adjusted so that the dampers come off after a little lost motion in the pedal. 

I'll let someone else address the second problem. 

Thanks for the background an insights Peter. 

I will run some tests to see what has an impact on the resonance.  If I look just at the bass strings that have E4 (for example) as a partial, I can change when they move on pressing the sustain pedal (later or earlier).  I can also try adding some weight to the damper barrels to test your idea that more mass may provide more damping.  I'll also check the felt below the bridge strings as you suggest - there is some there already, but perhaps not tight or in the middle of that non-speaking length.  My intuition is more in the direction Wim suggested, but I also want to get the dampers moving at the same time, with an appropriate amount of lost motion before they move.

Best regards,

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John Nicolson
Evanston IL
(847) 644-0811
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-12-2026 17:51
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Steinway upright has "reverb"

John,

This is not an isolated problem. It largely originates from the fact that upright dampers are impossible to locate in the ideal location. Then, if the piano is particularly resonant, the problem you describe appears. Oddly enough, increased spring pressure will likely exacerbate the problem, and they may already be too strong (enhancing the problem). 

A well known fix is to replace the damper barrels with brass ones, increasing mass without increasing pressure (that's somewhat involved though). Changing the physical position (up or down) of the dampers can sometimes alleviate some of that sympathetic triggering (that's also not the easiest thing to do). Weaving felt between the bass strings near the bridge is something I've seen some do. Isolating the piano from the floor can sometimes help a little. 

The bottom line is that the problem probably cannot be "eliminated", but it can be reduced. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

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


Original Message:
Sent: 05-12-2026 14:35
From: Wim Blees
Subject: Steinway upright has "reverb"

John

The "echo" that you might be caused by all the dampers not being seated properly on the strings. Press the sustain pedal and see how much "lost motion" there is in the pedal before the dampers come off the strings. If they are coming off immediately, that means the damper pedal needs to be adjusted so that the dampers come off after a little lost motion in the pedal. 

I'll let someone else address the second problem. 

Thanks Wim,

Good call, I'll check the lost motion when I am there again - I do recall that many of the bass dampers lifted with the sustain pedal earlier than the treble dampers, so I may also regulate them to all go at the same time, but not too quickly.

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John Nicolson
Evanston IL
(847) 644-0811
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-12-2026 14:35
From: Wim Blees
Subject: Steinway upright has "reverb"

John

The "echo" that you might be caused by all the dampers not being seated properly on the strings. Press the sustain pedal and see how much "lost motion" there is in the pedal before the dampers come off the strings. If they are coming off immediately, that means the damper pedal needs to be adjusted so that the dampers come off after a little lost motion in the pedal. 

I'll let someone else address the second problem. 

Another option is to install longer bass dampers - like the ones that Jurgen sells through PianoForte Tools. ESPECIALLY, if you are installing brass damper barrels. I’ve had very good luck with the longer dampers. It’s standard practice for me when restringing any upright.

Terry Farrell

Original Message:
Sent: 5/13/2026 8:17:00 AM
From: Terrence Farrell
Subject: RE: Steinway upright has "reverb"

Another option is to install longer bass dampers - like the ones that Jurgen sells through PianoForte Tools. ESPECIALLY, if you are installing brass damper barrels. I’ve had very good luck with the longer dampers. It’s standard practice for me when restringing any upright.

Terry Farrell

Hi John

Is your customers Steinway a recent purchase? I have found that customers with "new" pianos can be hyper-sensitive to normal sounds from their piano, especially those transitioning from a digital piano. Releasing a sustain pedal on a digital piano, all sound stops and they expect the same to happen with their acoustic piano.

The most perfectly regulated dampers on any piano will always have some minor after-ring. Forte test blows on a given note will only accentuate the perceived issue.

The sostenuto thump can be minimized by depressing the sustain pedal or continue holding the keys upon release of the sostenuto pedal to catch the dampers and return them in a more controlled fashion.

Put the lid back on the piano, play a piece of music and listen. I bet you will be able to confidently say to your customer that their piano sounds normal.

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Edmund F. Piotrowski III
Registered Piano Technician
PO Box 10
Lahaska, PA 18931
http://www.sta2ned.com
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