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Steinway una-corda

  • 1.  Steinway una-corda

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-10-2018 16:46
    ​I have a college with a newer Steinway D that the una-corda is squeaking.  They have a concert on it in a couple of weeks.  Any suggestions on the Squeak?

    Clarence Zeches RPT

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    Clarence Zeches
    Piano Service Enterprise School of Technology
    Toccoa GA
    706-886-4035
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  • 2.  RE: Steinway una-corda

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-10-2018 17:28
    First choice would be to eliminate it.  Next best choice would be to tune it.  Either way, you should first figure out its origin.  I wouldn't want to start listing the possibilities until you've had a chance to sort it out.  Have you eliminated any, thus far?



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    David Skolnik
    Hastings-on-Hudson NY
    914-231-7565
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  • 3.  RE: Steinway una-corda

    Posted 01-10-2018 18:59
    First choice: Leaf spring rubbing on key frame. Second: Key frame pins in the cheek blocks. Third: pedal rod scrubbing in pedal cup. Fourth: Glue shard on pedal rod guide rail bushing seam rubbing on moving rod (this took a  l o n g  time to sleuth).

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
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  • 4.  RE: Steinway una-corda

    Member
    Posted 01-10-2018 19:43
    When does the squeak happen ? during the shift or release ? Start at the bottom and work up . Maybe the hardwood inserts in the keybed need a little graphite burnished in to assist the shift of the keyframe . Could be contact point of the pedal rod and u c lever or 598 other things

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    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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  • 5.  RE: Steinway una-corda

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-10-2018 20:00
    Oh well, as long as we're going in, might as well pile on.  Could be that glides were set too deep, causing impression in hardwood dowels.  Or maybe keyframe has swollen at back rail and is tight under dags.  Don't forget to check for any telltale sawdust on hammer flanges that might indicate that drop screws are rubbing on underside of pinblock.

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    David Skolnik
    Hastings-on-Hudson NY
    914-231-7565
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  • 6.  RE: Steinway una-corda

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-11-2018 16:16
    I discovered a newer D that the key frame joint near the shift lever contact point was glue starved and squeaking. It took many times to locate that one.

    Joe Wiencek




  • 7.  RE: Steinway una-corda

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-11-2018 17:32
    Joe, 

    …and that is not the only newish Stwy D with that exact same problem. Yes, a real bear to find!

    Alan

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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  • 8.  RE: Steinway una-corda

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-11-2018 18:04
    Hi Clarence, the most illusive one I had was the underside of the screw head was rubbing on the leaf spring.  Many times that action came in and out of the piano.  I was sore after that not to mention the customer added the comment "oh by the way, the soft pedal squeaks.  Could you look into that for me?" as I was about to leave after tuning the piano.

    Lar

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    Larry Fisher
    Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
    Vancouver WA
    360-256-2999
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  • 9.  RE: Steinway una-corda

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-11-2018 23:23
    Some great past culprits revealed here. Thanks everyone. I will add that a guide rail stud that is somewhat loose in the threads can make a squeak. I remove the stud and wrap teflon plumbing tape around the threads to tighten it up.

    Teflon plumbing tape is useful for many things on pianos. Such as squeaky/loose/rusty/tight pedal trap pins and to wrap around the pedal pin so it is between the cloth and the pin in the Steinway pedal pivot system and then you can really tighten down the screw and have a stable, tight, freely moving Steinway pedal. I have ones done this way that have not loosened in ten or more years of daily use.

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    Edward McMorrow
    Edmonds WA
    425-299-3431
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  • 10.  RE: Steinway una-corda

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-12-2018 17:33
    Ed,

    I'm gonna use that one right away!

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 11.  RE: Steinway una-corda

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-12-2018 12:24
    If there is a shift lever guide bracket on the underside, like on a Model B, sometimes the lever will rub on the felt lining of the guide and squeak.  You can hear that one best by being under the piano and operating the shift lever by hand.

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    Robert Callaghan
    Reno NV
    775-287-2140
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