In Digest 97.11.06 John Johns writes:

> I believe that it is well known that older upright pianos show
> poor damping characteristics in the first half dozen or so notes of the
> treble section.  My own experience is very limited but the three pianos
> that I have dealt with all show this problem.>>

The problem here is not a function of harmonics at all.  The brass damper
lever springs are VERY weak from 60-90 years of constant stress.

> 1. What has been done in modern uprights to cure the problem?

Their damper springs are new.

> 2. How can I improve the damping in an older instrument?

Replace damper levers or flanges/springs with new ones.  Or you can
completely restore the piano action with all new parts and prevent the next
annoying problem to crop up as well.

> Somewhere, probably in Reblitz's book, I have read that Steinway used
> a more complicated system of damping to alleviate the problem.

You refer to the overdampers used on Steinway uprights for the lowest tenor
strings.  These are very effective.

D. L. Bullock Piano World St. Louis