How to dampen the sound on my upright piano?

[robmcguire]

Hi,

Have just bought an old Rogers upright piano for myself to play and also to teach my kids.

The only problem is that my wife works nights regularly and was wondering what is the best way to dampen the sound?

I have heard that you can just put some felt between the hammers and strings? is that the best way or is there any other way to sort this out?

Thanks for any help in advance.

Cheers, Rob

[Withindale]

Hello Rob

Brainstorming:

• No felt
  Play quietly
  Sound proof the piano
  Sound proof the piano room
  Sound proof the ceiling space
  Sound proof the bedroom
  Move the piano
  Ear plugs
  ...

in some combination.

[Barrie Heaton]

Hi,


I have heard that you can just put some felt between the hammers and strings? is that the best way or is there any other way to sort this out?

Thanks for any help in advance.

Cheers, Rob

This is what you want
http://www.fletcher-newman.co.uk/catalo ... /828k.html

your local tuner can fitt one

Barrie

[Colin Nicholson]

Just fitted one to a Bechstein upright, 2 days ago.
Make sure the piano is under-damped, and if no clearance between the bottom panel & keybed - you'll have to chisel out a curved channel for the cable. Lever goes under keyboard.

If it has alloy action brackets - fits easily, and to be fitted opposite end to pedal lift rods if poss..... if not sure, get a tuner to do it as Barrie suggests.

Looks like this ....

Colin

[Withindale]

This YouTube movie demonstrates the effect of the felt on a Kawai K-2, around 2:00 minutes.

[Colin Nicholson]

I have heard that you can just put some felt between the hammers and strings?

Things is.... we often get "fleeting visits" from new members who sometimes dont reply - and in many cases think that there is a "quick fix solution - drop some felt between the strings".... and we magically have a muted piano.

The cost of one of these kits is over £100 - and its properly fitted and made to last forever. However, any make-shift piece of felt may do.

[dboyce]

I've fitted one of those celeste rail kits in the past, and it worked very well. There may be acoustical steps that could be taken in the room to give some sound insulation. There are acoustic underlays for carpets, and sound-absorbing acoustic foam panels for walls.

[pianotechman]

Buy some extra felt at the same time, as the strings will cut through the original felt after a while, and you don't want to have to purchase a whole new celeste kit again do you?

[SirTK]

The thing I found with my lovely Yamaha upright was that playing with the damper pedal was less than satisfying, which is why I went digital when I moved to a semi-detached house.

Now I can play as loud as I like through headphones. The added bonus is that you can let all your inhibitions go, even if, like me, the quality of playing is not so great.

And if it needs to be audible, it has a volume control.

[Gill the Piano]

Or you can buy a Silent system piano which IS a proper piano but can be played digitally through headphones.

[Bill Kibby]

...Or you could buy a cheap electronic keyboard just so you can practise fingering on headphones when you need to be quiet.