In Digest 97.11.06 John Johns asks:

> I have two questions therefore:
>
> 1. What has been done in modern uprights to cure the problem?
> 2. How can I improve the damping in an older instrument?
>
> Somewhere, probably in Reblitz's book, I have read that Steinway used
> a more complicated system of damping to alleviate the problem.
> Regards

There is a addition to the damper system called an overdamper.
This is situated on the string above the hammer strike point.
Steinway had them connect to the main damper with a wire so
that the hammer had to pass through the wires to strike the string.
This narrow slot left very little room for tolerance. Let's say, bad
idea.

Someone finally configured the wire to be below the string level.
I first saw these on Yamahas some years ago. I wanted to place them
on an upright but they wanted $20 @ at the time. Maybe the supply
houses carry them.

To improve dampening, replace the felt and/or strengthen the springs.
The older felt may be sanded lightly to soften the surface, this will
not help felt that has become hardened.

Jon Page
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. (jpage@capecod.net)