UK Piano Page Piano Forum

further to Barrie's suggestion. " The Art of Pianoforte Construction" iby Wolfenden, is the definitive, albeit old fashioned, bible.
Quite rare now. Lost mine.

Assuming that the tops are ivory and not worn hollow, you need to scrape with a sharp cabinet scraper ensuring it does not judder and make permanent ridges.Then rub down with a hard block with flour paper.Then with a felt pad buff them with pumice powder. Then buff them with whiting powder.Asrie say...

All PIANOS NEED RESTRINGING? HUmpph Hummph
Please explain.That is greatest trauma any piano can suffer

Surely an unconsidered and exaggerated observation

genaa is exactly correct

why does it need a new set of strings? Who said so?

First I must apologise for using the word "fiddling!" However, I think purchasers must be made aware of certain truths. As a gross generalisation, I have always suggested to pupils the following and wonder what others' observations are, given that the piano is properly regulated and tuned before you...

Interestuing. My late great uncle Bock was Brindsmeads head rep about then. I'll have a word at the seance tonight

noises "in "pianos are generally caused by other things in the room. From experience, look at electric fires,obviously picture frames and anything loose even at the other side of the room. In older jos it can be a loose moulding on the top or bottom door which can reverberate depending on variations...

cut 4 neat 3" squares from an offcut of the hardwood flooring.
You can insert these( and remove them) by leaning the piano the required way without lifting.
If you are not handy enough, ask the tuner to make them!

not only the telly but the toilet on the boat has gone on the blink tho' I'm sure it's something I can mend.El San are a very reputable make.

watching Jamie Oliver on the box last night when the screen went blamk.
Telemann's coming tomorrow

genaa gives the best advice you can get.
enjoy

what's Phil Kennedy doing then?

I can recommend a super restaurant near Lulworth Cove. Also another at Shosta Cove. Vitchever you prefer.

I get most of my recipes off the web.Erik Satie is also a good source( sauce)

thinking of goose 'n sauce pomme

Watching Gordan Ramsay- he really has got the gift of the gab.Rieli puts Jamie Oliver in the shade.

Let's give it the full monte. Verdi you go after that?

un-ravel that

celestite
don't overdo the malt whiskies or you will end up completely Brahms and Litzt
For Sunday lunch, we're having poultry. Some sort of roast byrd.
We'll give the scraps to Tibbles debussy.

celestite What sort of husband have you got who "collects"malt whiskies? They're supposed to be drunk. Next time he opens a bottle ( does he ever?) throw away the bottle top as we like to do up here ( N Scotland) BTW, I hadn't realised what a gang of gourmets piano techs are. When I was training( ma...

For goodness sake buy a piano whose " tone" you like and don't try fiddling with it after. Tone is all in the head. It's produced not by the resilience of the hammer felt but by the whole animal--case,string quality, scale,hammers , tuning and it's environment. What we hear from a piano is the sound...

You've had good advice here above Depending on your insurance cover, go for a replacement.Anything less, if you settle, you will sign a form of disclaimer absolving the insurers of any further liability. In one/two/three years the whole piano may go twang and then you can bin it. In my career I have...

mdw

you speak great sense
vernon

when dampers go up they hiss. When they come down they thud. Listen to the music not the mechanics.
vernon

If it is not clear from the details already given( ie can you see the join?) Some ivory keys were in one piece.
However, to test, heat a pin red hot and apply it to the " ivory" at the back of the key where it will be hidden under the namesboard.You'll soon see and smell if they are plastic !
vernon

Probably someone has tried to knock in the pins with the noted results. PTFE is a good idea. There is a label under the lid warning against tapping in. Perhaps it is missing. I tune two of these, seperated by 100 miles with a difference of 10 in the serial numbers. Pain in the neck. Loch Ness Pianos...

any single note has an infinite number of harmonics(partials) Fortunately we don't hear many of them past the 7th. Different people hear different ones. Unfortunately, if you cannot hear the customer's problem you will most likely be branded as incompetent! They will then consult a friend who is an ...

to be fair, you are unlikely to ever need any major Yamaha parts in the lifetime of either you or your piano. Yamahas get very sniffy about their product, as did Hammond organs and Steinway in the past. That has now all changed and parts for anything are available on the internet .Everyday parts you...

If it's new it sounds like loose windings. No first aid .get the dealer toinspect and rectify. no ifs or buts.
They won't "settle in"
When we sell pianos, they are carefully checked and tuned before sale and any faults found then. Then re-checked and tuned before delivery.
vernon

If it's new it sounds like loose windings. No first aid .get the dealer toinspect and rectify. no ifs or buts.
They won't "settle in"
When we sell pianos, they are carefully checked and tuned before sale and any faults found then. Then re-checked and tuned before delivery.
vernon

If it's new it sounds like loose windings. No first aid .get the dealer toinspect and rectify. no ifs or buts.
They won't "settle in"
When we sell pianos, they are carefully checked and tuned before sale and any faults found then. Then re-checked and tuned before delivery.
vernon

buzzes are a pain and as mdw says, could be anything.. Leaving aside the bad belly cracks, loose bridge etc., they can be caused in my experience by; loose screw or two in long hinges. a broken bridge pin( broken out of sight.nasty) Loose fillets on backing cloth (older pianos),loose case panels(old...

agreed
vernon

We could show the United Nations a thing or two
v

making flanges? Just buy replacement prts. I've plenty!
vernon

you'll get a pearl River Yamaha m 125 for £3400
a s/h Yamaha U1 ( a good one !)for £2250 or a new Kawai K2 for £2950
All delivered ex stock

from me
vernon

nice to hear a reasonade reply
vernon( aged 99)

Advice for young piano tuners; If you are offered refreshment take the following advice; 1)Say " yes please I'll take it now" . Not when you are finished and the table is laid with biscuits and the prospect of an hours 'chat. 2)If you are offered " tea and crumpet," view the possibilties with circum...

The Mahler is a Lindner. Just take off the black label on the wrest plank, turn it over and it generally says Lindner!. Mind you they are fine pianos with the wooden keys( ducks behind steel shutters and dons stab-proof kevlar) Lindners were the most forward looking and innovative pianos of the late...

piano guy
I think mdw' s reply sums it up nicely.
vernon

or try;

info@gordonbellpianos.com for a good deal on kembles

vernon

bell pianos will give you a better deal than that. email Gordon on;

gt.bell@btinternet.com
vernon

I agree very cut price pianos can herald an imminent bankruptcy. Some of us are piano dealers as well as technician/tuners so we know both sides of the counter. Incidentaly, we've been around ( at least grandpa etc)selling pianos for 175 years so hope to still be here next year! For around £40...

were in your part last Nov for a wedding at Cresswell Castle

super area
vernon

Whereabouts in our great country do you live so that perhaps one could point you towards an honesttechnician
vernon loch ness

In the case of falseness I always go for the third string which generally seems less false. Goodness knows why. Incidentally, I have an old white Papps wedge but also a wooden one!
vernon

Kennards in Canterbury used to have them made ( made in chestnut)in the 19802.
They were made by the coach bulders in Ashford Kent - Crouch?
They are sure to be still there and may be able to make one
vernon kennard

If you have a Kaps 1886 grand don't expect it to worth anything commercially even after restoration. If you want to keep it and play it that is different and it's value will be what you make of it.
Vernon

Barratt and Robinson made a 6 oct consolette. pre war with transfer name which is often polished off
vernon

a technical forum would be helpful, closed or not. Non techs would not understand the vocabulary any way. all this talk of Newark in the 70s. What about the Northern Polytechnic in the 50s where I was regulation lecturer? I'm factory apprenticeship trained in marking-off, finishing and reg and tunin...