Pianotech

  • 1.  Upright damper lifting unevenly

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-30-2022 14:36
    A customer just sent me a short video of a newer inexpensive Asian console with dampers that lift at the ends (treble and bass) before the tenor.

    This might be simply a case of a bent or curved lifter rod, but who has fixed this issue?

    Did you need to re-regulate the lifters and dampers after straightening the rod?

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    Blaine Hebert RPT
    Duarte CA
    (626) 795-5170
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  • 2.  RE: Upright damper lifting unevenly

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-30-2022 15:38
    Has the piano been like this since they got it or has it happened since it arrived at the client's home?

    Whenever I see damper lift inconsistencies like this in new pianos I look into the potential of the piano having been dropped onto it's back. If that's the case then hopefully someone else can pay for the repair, either the dealer or the movers. If that's the case then generally the main rail will be bent, not just the damper rail. I would look down the action and try to see whether the wippen line is straight or if there is a curve around the area where the dampers are lifting late.

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    Peter Stevenson RPT
    P.S. Piano Service
    Prince George BC
    (250) 562-5358
    ps@pspianos.com
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Upright damper lifting unevenly

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-30-2022 17:09
    This will be a warranty issue.

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    Blaine Hebert RPT
    Duarte CA
    (626) 795-5170
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Upright damper lifting unevenly

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-30-2022 17:10
    Good advice.

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    Blaine Hebert RPT
    Duarte CA
    (626) 795-5170
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Upright damper lifting unevenly

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-30-2022 21:06
    A couple things you might want to look at that could be potentially easy fixes.
    First: Is the lifter rod secured tightly? Make sure it is not wobbling around in the clamps that hold it in place. 
    Second: Is the action installed correctly? Sometimes if an upright action is installed slightly incorrectly the piano may appear to play almost OK but one end will be slightly farther away from the strings than the other. 
    However, since you mention that it's only lifting late in the middle of the piano, it may just be damper timing needs to be addressed. Is this happening with the sustain pedal only or is it something that they notice while playing individual notes?

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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Upright damper lifting unevenly

    Posted 07-01-2022 05:37
    One of the first things I'd want to look at is the integrity of the damper lift rod bushings (the bushed things that attach the rod to the rail). If the center one is broken or has come loose from the rail, that may let the rod bend enough to cause what you are describing. I've seen this several times over the years.

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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    Original Message