Discussion Posts

Kinda...sorta...should be...😉 Peter Grey Piano Doctor ------------------------------ Peter Grey Stratham NH (603) 686-2395 pianodoctor57@gmail.com ------------------------------ ...

Thanks so much to a kind colleague for picking me up on senility. Half my brain thinks of a fundamental note and the first harmonic an octave up . . . So . . . " The fundamental isn't false but the 1st partial is. In this situation it's really ...

Thanks Peter and Debra, Yes, I will measure, I was just curious if there's a standard size key pin for Mason and Hamlin generally. Joe

The Steinway Worldwide Technical Reference Guide says this: "Preparation for Tuning Check strings for discoloration/corrosion and clean with a pad (like Scotch-Brite or steel wool) or light benzene in order to minimize the occurrence of false beats." ...

Measure...don't guess. Otherwise just have all of your caul sizes readily available and a backup plan if you screw up. 😉 Peter Grey Piano Doctor ------------------------------ Peter Grey Stratham NH (603) 686-2395 pianodoctor57@gmail.com ...

When I used steel wool or worked on a piano that had strings that were cleaned with steel wool I was picking buzzing steel wool filaments off of strings for years! I only use Scotch Bright or a substitute on pianos never steel wool. Polita works, ...

If I lubricate rusty strings and drop the pitch of each string before pulling it up I very seldom have strings break at the coil (a tension break). I regularly lubricate strings at the bearing points (not bass strings!), but this is a complex subject ...

Steven -- "... it is the dust that settles on the string that holds the moisture long enough to corrode." Never thought of it like that but this makes really good sense. Funny thing is I actually have one of those old Schaff Polita eraser bars. ...

The Schaff product that Wim mentions is now simply called " Steel Polish " it did have some sort of brand name before. It's a rubber bar impregnated with emory. As another islander, rust is very common, the patina of rust you describe is generally not ...

Should be correct at .146 You could measure to be sure, though. Deb Debra Legg www.debraleggpiano.com 5 Tarr's Lane WEST Rockport, MA 01966 978-546-8428

Does anyone know the key pin sizes for Mason & Hamlin (1998 BB)? I have seen posted by some that most American pianos use .146 for both balance and front rails, but I have not found any data relating to the date range of those sizes. Joe Wiencek

I used "fret erasers" I bought from Stew Mac, the online guitar repair site. Peter Grey Piano Doctor ------------------------------ Peter Grey Stratham NH (603) 686-2395 pianodoctor57@gmail.com ------------------------------

Schaff sells a product called politte, or something like that. It's kind a like a large eraser. Or you can use 0000 steelwool.

Thanks to all for your replies. This piano was donated to a church. Don't know it's history but it's not been touched in years. Cause of the rust is unknown, but it's mostly just a thin even coating. No pitting or flaking. When I tuned it yesterday only ...

Yeah, I totally get where you're coming from, Benjamin. Loans can be a real double-edged sword during tough times if you're not careful, because taking on more debt when business is uncertain feels risky. For my small shop, I actually steered clear from ...

David I lived/worked in Hawaii for 14 years. It was COP, (Common operation procedure), to put string covers on grand pianos. It wasn't 100% protection, but much better than nothing.

A couple of instruments I maintain are on the seafront in northern Italy. Would it be good advice to suggest to clients that they keep a thermal cover on their instruments? Has anyone any experience of such protection? The Yamaha grands might ...

I have clients who live right on the Atlantic ocean who have totally destroyed their pianos by opening windows and doors to smell the ocean air. Not only do the string get deeply rusted and pitted by the actions seize up and wood and felts are compromised. ...

I joined Ralph Stillwell's chapter 45 years ago. Some of you may remember him, he was a Yamaha rep and very PTG involved. He swore that polishing the strings improved the sound. If I remember right, he would do that even if they weren't rusty. I can't ...

I recently brought in a 1981 Kawai grand that had surface rust all over (from living a mile from the Atlantic for much of it's existence). Although the overall tone was not bad, I couldn't help but wonder if there would be any improvement by cleaning ...

In essence Wim is on the ball - lubricate at the friction points but that doesn't take into account fragility at the coils. However rusty strings can hide old strings which are inharmonic and contain false beating partials. The fundamental isn't false ...

Geoff Rust on the strings is not the problem, except, as you said, they look bad. Where rust becomes a problem is at the contact points: The coil, the agraff/v-bar, bridge pins and hitch pins. You can't clean under the string where they make ...

1958 Baldwin F. Really a very nice piano, with the exception that the strings and tuning pins are a bit rusty. Not bad rusty but all over surface rusty. I just did a 50¢ pitch raise on it, and a fine tuning, and everything came in clean without a hint ...

Summer, You may find my comments harsh, however I find that one of new tuners' biggest stumbling blocks is that they don't fully understand the SOURCE of the beats they're supposed to listen to. I know this because that was my issue when I was learning. ...

Hello, Peter, Spot on. Kind regards, Horace

Summer, Tuning aurally (a.k.a., analog...meaning to compare), REQUIRES that you 1) Know where to find the beats for any given interval, 2) What other intervals share the same beating partial(s), and 3) Listen to these beats and learn to compare their ...

I got through by phone, and was able to get things straightened out. At first, the version of their home page that was stored in my computer's cache came up, and clicking on the webstore link took me nowhere. I can no longer bring that page up to ...

They've recently sent emails about their "new website" and how to access it. I had to change my password... Teri

Summer -- I think that questioning Verituner over your instructor is not going to be the best path moving forward. If you plan on taking the RPT Tuning Exam, and I recommend you do, then you need to meet the requirements for that exam, which may be ...

Sounds quite interesting. I have been examining and documenting an 1822/1823 Alpheus Babcock built for G D McKay and now in a museum in South Carolina. It is quite intact except that the keyframe at the top end is missing after key # 56. I believe it ...

When I just tried the web site, there was no link to the 'Web store.' www.schaffpiano.com takes me to a new home page that allowed me to search for an view catalog items, including quantity in stock. There are no prices, and not ability to place orders ...

The rollout of their newly updated website was very buggy. It seems to be functioning now. I did the change of password when it was still buggy. When I went to the website and clicked on the web store link it led to an error message and no ability ...

Interesting... A couple days ago I got an e-mail from < nlmailer@notification.netsuite.com > welcoming me to Schaff Piano Supply (I have been a Schaff client since 1986). Inside it looked like the Schaff website, and there was a message instructing ...

HI- Does anyone know what is going on with Schaff Piano right now? The website store is shut down and does not work, no one answers the phone and they are not returning messages. I've been trying to place an order for a week now. thanks, ...

Hi Summer, The Verituner is a very flexible app when it comes to setting the tuning parameters. From what the develper hears back from techs is that most never "look under the hood" and use anything other than the default settings. Short answer to ...

The pin that came out is usually a 20 1/2. I replace with the same size. If you can push the pin through the Birds Eye, it’s too loose. If the pin sticks in the hole, that’s perfect. If the pin won’t stay by itself in the Birds Eye, it’s too big. Then ...

What pin size do you end up with? you start with a 20? and go to a 21 1/2.? Any larger and you resize the birdseye. Of course with the verdigre, the pin might be rotating in the birdseye and it's already sized On Wed, May 6, 2026 at 1:49 PM Keith ...

Ok, I was wrong. This piano is a 1929 M they got it I had used protek last fall right after The school is a non profit. I mentioned replacing parts to the owner and his volunteer help. Mr B said something about getting a grant,,, Then he asked ...

For vertigris, I punch the pin out, use my 25 watt soldering iron that has a very small pencil point filed slightly so it is not tapered, insert that into the bushing for one second. The vertigris turns to liquid and then gas in a puff of white smoke. ...

My method is to replace all verdigris affected parts with new. I have experimented with ammonia and it does neutralize all of the acids, but it also destroys any glue joints and bushings. Fantastic contains an ammonia compound, and seems to work, but ...

Not necessarily. By using the checks, provided the temperament octave was set right, the checks will automatically stretch the octaves for the piano. Sent from my iPhone

Hi summer, I suggest you try out the stretch settings devised by Kent Swafford, based on the P12 temperament. You'll find it in the Verituner forums if it isn't a pre-loaded option. ------------------------------ Patrick Draine RPT Billerica MA (978) ...

To our authors or others who need to contact the Journal staff: We're still experiencing issues with our email system, especially bounced emails from editor@ptg.org. If you need to contact me and your message is bounced back, please feel free to use ...

Wim, Progressive 3rds/10ths/6ths are fine, but they don't determine the size of the octaves, right? Isn't octave size the issue? ------------------------------ Scott Cole, RPT rvpianotuner.com Talent, OR (541-601-9033 ------------------------- ...

Summer As a way to get you to tune aurally, but still rely on your Verituner, here is what will help. First, tune the bass with the ETD. Then listen to a 10th, starting with the 3 rd note above the break, and the 10 th above that. (E3 - G#4) ...

That is Randall's method,,Dave. I would like some guidance also. I would think you heat the pin while still in the bushings. Do you turn the flange sideways, set it on something metal and press the iron onto the pin? How long and what watt iron? I ...

There are various styles of tuning bass and I'm not sure that strict harmonic matching is the way to go. Whilst I've found a target that my CTS5 tuner can follow reliably I have played octaves and listened not for any one harmonic match in particular ...

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done. Meaning - I don't really want to see a dozen "you'll never learn aural tuning if you keep using ETDs" replies. During some tuning ...

Dear Colleagues It's appropriate to express great thanks to Steven Norsworthy whose {adverbs or adjectives here} caused me to think, research and listen more with the result of putting more refinement into my tuning results. In particular I've come ...

Blaine, is your method published anywhere? I'd like to try it out. -- Dave Conte, RPT, CCT Owner, Rocky Top Piano Knoxville, TN 817-307-5656 dave@daveconte.com www.RockyTopPiano.com