Pianotech

  • 1.  tuning miniature piano

    Posted 06-12-2018 19:41
    Hi!
    I have to tune two miniature pianos - 1960's Kawai Imperaile and 1937 Wurlitzer Piccolo Butterfly student version (this is a teeny version of the regular butterfly piano, no pedals etc).  Does anyone know if these are tuned to A440 or lower? Don't want to stress the strings/plate with too much tension.
    Thanks!

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    Cynthia Jenkins
    Jenks OK
    918-638-2423
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  • 2.  RE: tuning miniature piano

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-12-2018 20:42
    Yes, they can, and should be tuned, to A440.  They're small, not weak.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: tuning miniature piano

    Member
    Posted 06-12-2018 20:50
    define what miniature is and what the stringing is like - single hitch pin loops or shared hitch pins ? 88 keys ? double or triple string unisons        /
     the one without pedals seems to describe a toy more then a piano 440 may be too much the chickering 1/4 grand has 435 embossed on the plate but i have tuned them to 440 . there seems to have been a push to produce small grands to fit small rooms . there was even a smaller chickering than the 1/4 grand called "the infant" . I suggest trying to track down some advertising or catalogs from the year both pianos date to .music trade review and presto are good places to look, the antique piano shop in TN may also have catalogs

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    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: tuning miniature piano

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-12-2018 21:49
    Nobody redesigned anything when pitches got changed. They just yanked them up. They were usually overbuilt anyway. If something were to break, that means there was a structural weakness. Would have broken sooner or later anyway.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: tuning miniature piano

    Posted 06-13-2018 05:25
      |   view attached
    A440 all the way!

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: tuning miniature piano

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-15-2018 21:56
    Cynthia,

    The Wurlitzer has approximately 7 screws to gain access to the pinblock, but it should be pretty straightforward.  A440 is the pitch.  There are 44 notes.  Bichords all the way up.  You will benefit from a low stool or chair to sit on while tuning.

    Here's a photo album of what you'll encounter:
    https://goo.gl/photos/Ly2Y8Fd7ic8AxtCLA

    Good luck!

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    Christopher Storch
    Belmont MA
    617-489-6436
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: tuning miniature piano

    Posted 06-16-2018 10:27
    I have just a few of these miniatures Tom Thumb , Marco Polo etc in my service area, gosh  tuning is about 11 minutes if you work slowly so do it twice!  then  mull what you're going to charge which generally takes longer!!  (a) $3 a note, (b) regular fee minus maybe $20  (c) regular fee so you don't get called back to tune them again ...

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    Martin Snow
    Boston MA
    617-543-1030
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: tuning miniature piano

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-18-2018 00:08
    Cynthia, 

    I have a Marco Polo in my store. It tunes and sounds fine at A440. No
    structural reason not to.

    I also went to a new customer and tuned a model XO Duo-Art, the 
    original owner, bought in 1938. Art case. Had to regulate that piano
    and do so with the player works on the action. What a job. After I 
    was done (the second day), she asked me if I could tune their "other"
    piano. We walked into another parlor (these folks are the Fort Worth
    Carter family and have more money than most states) and there it
    was, an avocado green Tom Thumb piano with a framed picture of
    them rubbing elbows with Van Cliburn - yes, that Van Cliburn,
    Fort Worth's own.

    I was new and didn't know better. Tuned that piano to A440 and she
    said it had never sounded that good.

    So, tune it right.

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    Dave Conte
    Owner
    North Richland Hills TX
    817-581-7321
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: tuning miniature piano

    Posted 06-18-2018 11:43
    Tuned a salesman sample piano, less than 30 inches wide to A440.   

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    Jeffrey Gegner
    Tipton IN
    765-860-5900
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    Original Message