Is my piano missing any parts?

[manugarciac]

https://img836.imageshack.us/img836/559/piano.png

I noticed that the highest notes don't have that thing that stops the string when a key is released. Is that normal?

[pianowolfi]

https://img836.imageshack.us/img836/559/piano.png

I noticed that the highest notes don't have that thing that stops the string when a key is released. Is that normal?

Yes that's normal. Don't worry

[stevebob]

https://img836.imageshack.us/img836/559/piano.png

I noticed that the highest notes don't have that thing that stops the string when a key is released. Is that normal?

By the way, it's called a "damper" ... just in case you were interested in looking up further information about the mechanism.

[keyboardclass]

The history of that is very interesting.  My Broadwood square made in 1800 goes F to C (5 1/2 octaves).  The original model a few years before went F to F.  When they fitted the extra 1/2 Octave in much the same size case the hammers had to go under the soundboard (they cut a hole in it for them to meet the strings) and there was no room for dampers.  I guess it was always a tradition afterwards (though my friends Steinway has damper's a little further up).

[stevebob]

I once assumed that the number of undamped notes at the upper spectrum was standardized (to the extent I thought about it at all).  I became curious when I realized that my first-generation Korg digital has no undamped notes—just one of the ways in which it's not exactly piano-like.

I was surprised how much variation there is among makes and models in where the dampers terminate.

[silverwoodpianos]

For the most part Steve, upright instruments have 65 dampers. Some of the better makers had 70; some even 72 or 75.

The main reason that there are no dampers in this area is because the strings are small and thin, the audible sound in this area of the scale is so short, if these strings were dampened one would not hear them when played.

I have had experience where clients have purchased a piano from me and then I have received an angry phone call about the fact that I sold them an instrument not completed.....this has happened several times now......due to the alleged missing dampers

[keyboardclass]

The main reason that there are no dampers in this area is because the strings are small and thin, the audible sound this area of the scale is so short; if these strings were dampened one would not hear them when played.

Don't follow that.

[silverwoodpianos]

I’ll try again. The high treble wires do not have dampers. They ring for such a short period of time that if they had dampers the listener would not hear the note at all.

this is the main reason the high treble does not have dampers.They are not required to silence the instrument in that area.

Better for you?

[keyboardclass]

Well, no.  Surely you don't really need them to be sustained?  You can get away without dampers because they don't sustain (as much).  There's no reason not to damp every note surely?