Backrail cloth

[GetWithTheTines]

Hi everyone,
I just took my Wurlitzer 200 apart and noticed that my backrail cloth has hardened pretty significantly. I'm thinking of replacing it, but am wondering what thickness to use. Has anyone ever replaced it on a 200 and what thickness did you use?
Thanks!

[pianotuner steveo]

The thickness does not matter as much on a wurlitzer as it does on a Rhodes. I usually just buy medium, thick may change the dip slightly. You don't adjust dip on a wurli this way, but it can affect it a little.

[GetWithTheTines]

Thanks, Steveo!

[pianotuner steveo]

You're welcome!

[GetWithTheTines]

Follow up: I put some medium backrail cloth (.0185") next to what's currently there and it was a little thinner so I ordered some medium-thick (.215").

Also, would you recommend installing it, as many piano technicians do, by gluing only the front half of the felt so that some of it stays loose in the back, providing a softer landing and quieter action? It is currently glued completely in place and, if anything, there is some slight play at the front. I'm just wondering if it was done that way for a reason.

Finally, the cloth that I have is 1" wide, but the cloth that is there appears to be 3/4" wide. Will 1" cloth be ok? It's difficult to find cloth any narrower than that.

As always, thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[pianotuner steveo]

The width should not matter, just be sure to check your key height and dip later and adjust if necessary.

The 1/2 glued 1/2 not glued makes sense in theory, but most I have seen are glued all the way. I really dont think that with today's wood glues that will matter too much. You won't be soaking the cloth so much that the top gets hard from the glue. It will be softer than what you have now, it sounds like.

Dip pointers: dip that is too deep makes the action feel real light and can risk reed breakage.

Shallow dip makes the action feel choked, or harder to play.

[SlowMonroe]

I've used medium, works well.