If you have done all the usual things like new hammers and action
regulation, so it even _can_ play softly, you also have the restoration
of the player system that will then play softly and still play all the
notes.  At this point you have done all the normal things to promote
the ability to play softly.

At that point there is only one thing left to do.  Go to the store and
get 3- to 4-inch thick foam rubber sheets.  These often come in the size
of a twin bed.  Pull the piano out from the wall and measure the size of
those holes between the timbers and the height between the pin block
and the bottom rail.  Cut a piece of sponge rubber to snugly fit each
of those holes.

Without letting them buzz against the soundboard, push them into their
holes and you may then tack a solid piece of canvas to the back of the
piano.  The piano will now be as soft as you can humanly get it.

The small rubber isolation pads for under the casters will soften
things for your downstairs neighbor but they don't always do much for
the people in the room.  This sponge rubber technique will, however.

I know it is heresy to dampen down the sound of a piano like this but
sometimes it must be done.

D.L. Bullock
St. Louis
www.thepianoworld.com