CAUT

  • 1.  Keytop Color Difference

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-02-2018 23:11
    Young Chang action in for new brackets with about seven keytops throughout that are much whiter than the others.  Has anyone been successful in purposely 'yellowing' plastic keytops to any degree - chemically, with light, or heat, or are we looking at changing out the whole set so they all match? 
    Further, does anyone know why this even happens, to some and not all the keytops?  Looking closely at the part of the keytop that never got any light on them (the last 1/8" under the fallboard when up), you can see they were all probably once white.  Most keytops yellowed in time, most likely from exposure to light, but seven stayed white - must have come from different manufacturing batches?
    Any and all suggestions, conjecture, ponderment, and direction welcome.
    Thanks.

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    Chuck Christus
    Flagler Beach, FL
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  • 2.  RE: Keytop Color Difference

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2018 01:40
    Young Chang had different colors of keytops as production went through the years. You should call them to see which color went with your piano, likely using the serial number. Or, get several colors and try to match them to the majority of the keys of that color. Someone probably replaced the odd colored ones, not knowing that there were slight color variations in their keytops.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego




  • 3.  RE: Keytop Color Difference

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2018 12:01
    Paul is right on the money, however-with respect to getting help from Young Chang's service/support dept right now...might be a challenge to get any real help from them. 
    Perhaps the customer (after they see how much better the piano plays) would go for a new set of tops?? Derbra Legg is amazing & affordable. 

    Next best option may be to try to send in a sample key/top to someone who does this alk the time. (At least they may be able to get a close match. They might sell you a set of blanks. One idea...

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    [Kevin] [Fortenberry] [RPT]
    [Staff Techician]
    [Texas Tech Univ]
    [Lubbock] [TX]
    [8067783962]
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  • 4.  RE: Keytop Color Difference

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-03-2018 12:13
    I have heard that iodine can be used to yellow naturals (thinking more of ivory, and using it diluted). I'd do quite a bit of experimentation before trying it on a customer's keytops, however. 

    Unless the customer was complaining, I would leave well enough alone. And I would tell them that the only way to guarantee an even color is a complete set of tops.
    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    "The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination." - Einstein