CAUT

  • 1.  Piano case bumpers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-13-2018 14:22
    I service two very nice Yamaha grand pianos that live on stage at a local college. Unfortunately they are usually moved by students in whatever program is going to use them for any given performance. They are both on star dollies so they move easily, but, being students, (and meaning no disrespect for students of any kind), they are less than careful when moving them. Therefore, the edges of the lids, mostly, are seriously chipped. 

    I have seen on some stages, pianos that have what I must call a bumper. A piece of wood, perhaps 2" or 3" high and thick enough to stick out further than the lid, that is attached to the case of the piano and finished so that it doesn't look horrible. I believe the ones I have seen actually follow the curve of the case but I can't imagine how that might be accomplished unless these bumpers actually already exist for purchase. 

    The school has requested I get the chips repaired and a bumper, or something, installed to help prevent further damage. Of the two, I think getting the bumper installed is going to be the easiest to pull off since the local finish touch-up guy that had the skills to do polyester repair has retired and we can't find anyone with those skills to take his place. 

    I guess that means that what I'm seeking, mostly, is bumper recommendations. 

    I look forward to your replies.

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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 2.  RE: Piano case bumpers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-14-2018 01:07
    Hi Geoff, I think what we decided on & I stalled back-stage in our recital hall at Texas Tech just may be exactly what you are looking for. I just was your post & do not have the info handy but I will be glad to send it to you on Monday along with pics. Hope this will be helpful.

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    [Kevin] [Fortenberry] [RPT]
    [Staff Techician]
    [Texas Tech Univ]
    [Lubbock] [TX]
    [8067783962]
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  • 3.  RE: Piano case bumpers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-14-2018 15:34
    Thanks, Kevin. That would be great!

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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 4.  RE: Piano case bumpers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-14-2018 17:46
    I installed a couple pieces of 1 x 2 on each door jamb between the storage area and the stage, at a level just below the lid (it was well-marked on each jamb by abrasion of the piano lids), and covered them with carpet. That certainly helped a lot. 

    It would probably be possible to install some kind of bumper on the base of the piano trucks - Steinway has such things in the factory, so that they hit the wall or jamb before the piano, but that might be too much for actually getting through the doorway (assuming you have one).

    A padded chair rail around the room/storage space would also work. Someone researched and found such a thing a few years back and posted. Whether or not you'd find the thread is hard to say, but it is there.






  • 5.  RE: Piano case bumpers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-15-2018 00:38
    I found the product & supplier for what we used. One of our professors knew someone that had used this company before. They were GREAT to deal with, and their products are very high quality. 
    The company is Wallguard.com
    I am going to attach pics from the website including what we ordered & used. 
    The price of $138 is for one 8ft section. This is how it comes. If your wall is 12 or 15 ft, you order 2 sections, cutting the second one to the length you need, & install it. The little end caps are ordered separately, 2 per section of guard you are installing. First you screw the aluminum rail to the wall (below the lid of the piano as Fred mentioned.) Then slip the rubber part over the rail which interlocks very nicely. These bumpers are about 1 1/2 inches think & soft rubber. So excellent to prevent damage to pianos!


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    [Kevin] [Fortenberry] [RPT]
    [Staff Techician]
    [Texas Tech Univ]
    [Lubbock] [TX]
    [8067783962]
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  • 6.  RE: Piano case bumpers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-15-2018 11:13
    Kevin --

    This looks promising. Perhaps the all rubber guard, which is flexible and can bend around curved surfaces, double stick taped to the side of the piano would work. 

    Thanks --

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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 7.  RE: Piano case bumpers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-15-2018 11:37
    Yes, Geoff I think this company SHOULD have as close to exactly what you need as anyplace I have found or heard of. They send us a bunch of samples & all the info/help we asked for. (Samples at no charge!)  The one that we went with, and that I sent pics of...may not be the axact product that would be best for attaching to the piano. It looks to me like it would totally WORK, but the aluminum rail it comes with may have to be tossed. Let us continue this convo...
    Kevin

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    [Kevin] [Fortenberry] [RPT]
    [Staff Techician]
    [Texas Tech Univ]
    [Lubbock] [TX]
    [8067783962]
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Piano case bumpers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-14-2018 20:25
    Ask Keith Kopp. We did that at BYU in a couple different ways. In one group we put wood bumpers to protect the piano, then custodians started complaining about these dings on their doorways...  j

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    James Busby
    Mt Pleasant UT
    435-851-3201
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