Hi Everyone,
I'd like to start off by saying how much I've enjoyed this site. I read the new posts every morning, and I've gotten good answers to all the questions I've posed here. I have a 1902 Kurtmann upright (used to be painted green) that I've been working on. I've stripped the paint off, flatened and fixed the veneer, sanded, glued, put new bridle straps on, taken off the ivories,fixed hammers, etc.... The problem I've run into most recently is how to get the two middle octaves from being sluggish. the hammers stay up when you play to many notes at a time. I've read that this could be the springs or bridle straps, but I just replaced the bridles, and the springs seem fine as well. What can I do too fix this problem?

Thanks for your advise!
Josh Baker
(16yr. old technician in training)

First of all, this is the area for player pianos, and your question is better suited for the technician's area.

You have to diagnose what is sluggish: the keys, the wippens, the hammer butts. This is not easy. Once you have done that, you will usually find that the problem is swollen felt against a metal pin, either a key pin or a center pin. Repairing either of those problems requires some specialized tools, and possibly parts or materials as well. The springs may not be strong enough, but that is probably not the cause of the sluggishness.