x

Problems with replacing damper felt

rogersvibes 10 July 2018

I recently had to move my Musser M75 and decided to replace the damper felt while I had it broken down. Now that the new felt is on, I'm having problems getting the damper set properly. With the spring fully engaged there are notes in the top octave that still ring. I'm tempted to just use moleskin to fine tune those notes, but I fear that could cause other problems. The bar is straight when I put a level on it. Is there anything I'm missing?

Comments

Randy_Sutin Tue, 07/10/2018 - 20:28

There are several things that can cause that. If you rarely play those notes, then likely the felt on the pad you replaced was less compressed than the rest of the damper bar. As a result there was more pressure on it before you fixed it and the bar eventually shifted to balance that out... It actually happens a lot on the Pro Traveller and is very annoying. On the M75, the fix can be several different approaches.

- With the bars in place, you can disconnect the damper bar on the low end from the hinge and gently pull up on it. when you put it back in the hinge, often that is enough to balance it back out. If the low notes start to ring, then the same thing on the high end should help a little.

- If that doesn't work, sure, go for the moleskin, but if it were me, I would put it under the felt (between the felt and the bar) so that the surface that hits the bar is still the felt and not goopy moleskin. That said, I have moleskin on a couple of my axes and CERTAINLY keep it with me to fix such issues at gigs.

- A more permanent solution, if you know the damper bar is level, even and in good working order, is to adjust the posts. This is tricky and best left to a pro. You can do it yourself, but be careful. a ringing note can be tightened up by either lowering the posts near the damper or slightly raising the post on the opposite end of the bar.

The firmer the felt, the more you will deal with this when you put new felt on. This is why a LOT of guys like the gel pads. They level themselves out and they are very quiet. I'm not a fan, but I do admit that these two advantages are cool and understand why they are popular.

Best of luck.

rogersvibes Tue, 07/10/2018 - 21:27

Hi Randy, thanks I was hoping someone like you would see this. I read some of your replies to other damper related questions. I messed around with bending one of arms a little (based on advice from Indiana_Glen) and that helped. But I still have the top 3 notes ringing. I'll try the first approach you mention.

As for where to put the moleskin, the previous felt actually did have some kind of thick tape underneath the bar, possibly on the higher register (I don't remember). So maybe this was an issue that was treated before I ripped off the old felt. If you put the moleskin under the felt, do you just pull up that part of the felt from the glue?

I thought about switching to a gel pad, but I was put off by the cost and the trouble of installing it. Suffice it say I am rethinking that now!

-Tristan

David Friedman Wed, 07/11/2018 - 04:57

This reminds me of the years of frustration I suffered at the hands of Musser's "Don't give a shit about the customer" attitude. I remember being in a studio with Dave Samuels, recording "In lands I never Saw", taping the frame, sticking foam towels, rags between the legs, anything to stop the ever annoying frame noise! It worked for a second and then the curse of metal on metal reappeared and drove us nuts AGAIN and AGAIN! Maybe it's time to throw in the "towel" and think about a new instrument.

Randy_Sutin Wed, 07/11/2018 - 09:47

I have a great Musser M75 without most of these issues. It was made in 1949 and has been totally refurbished/updated including a newly design damper bar and it had its motor completely replaced. So it doesn't count.

I have an OK Musser M55 with few of these issues. It was made in 1977 and I have maintained it regularly, but it is nowhere near as good. It survives, as you describe, with a constant string of bush fixes.

I have a crap Musser M48 from 1987 that rarely has a day without this kind of problem. The ONLY time I like this axe is when my M55 is in the shop or I have a gig that involves carrying the axe several blocks on a hand truck.

So... Yes. I hear you. The new Malletech Omega has none of this trouble. That is a huge plus.

And yes... Clearly nobody at Musser is paying attention to the needs of pros anymore, despite the fact that they make a design that was long accepted as the standard for pros.

rogersvibes Wed, 07/11/2018 - 12:04

Yeah, I wouldn't put this particular problem on Musser. The instrument is 50 years old and otherwise plays great. The bars sound especially good. Plus I hardly ever move it, so the fact that the damper goes out of whack when it's moved, while annoying, isn't a big deal. Maybe someday I'll get a Malletech frame for the bars.

Forums

x
⇡