Discussion Posts

I was always told that silicone creeps, too, just like WD40. I warn my customers not to use Pledge on pianos because the spray contain silicone and will creep into the pins, and eventually into the pinblock. I don’t think applying it as a solid to the ...

One of my R.P.T. friends treats all of his piano wire with silicone. It seals the steel and helps in rendering at the bearing points. He sprays the coils, then wipes it with a rag as he loads it into a "film can". I'd be interested to see someone in a ...

Alan. I don’t think there are going to be any piano tuners with a longer service. You are now ready to retire, if you want to. When I was at Alabama one of the piano professors had been teaching there for 50 years. She was the longest tenured professor ...

Alan Awesome! You are so extremely fortunate. 🌞 ------------------------------ Garret Traylor Trinity NC (336) 887-4266 ------------------------------ ...

Greetings, Someone recently asked me how long I have been the full-time piano technician at CalArts. (The answer is 42 years--and counting!). Then they asked what the longest continuous stretch served by a CAUT at a single institution is. Hence this ...

Another option is to install longer bass dampers - like the ones that Jurgen sells through PianoForte Tools. ESPECIALLY, if you are installing brass damper barrels. I’ve had very good luck with the longer dampers. It’s standard practice for me when restringing ...

Thank you, Jeannie! ------------------------------ John Minor The Piano Shop Inc Champaign IL thepianoshopcu@gmail.com www.thepianoshopcu.com ------------------------------

Thanks for the background an insights Peter. I will run some tests to see what has an impact on the resonance. If I look just at the bass strings that have E4 (for example) as a partial, I can change when they move on pressing the sustain pedal (later ...

Thanks Wim, Good call, I'll check the lost motion when I am there again - I do recall that many of the bass dampers lifted with the sustain pedal earlier than the treble dampers, so I may also regulate them to all go at the same time, but not too ...

John Hartmann Regards, ~ jeannie Jeannie Grassi Registered Piano Technician Bainbridge Island, WA grassipianos@gmail.com 206-842-3721

I should probably repeat that even though I am arriving on Monday, I am open to sharing the room with someone arriving Tuesday. We would split the cost of the room Tuesday-Saturday. The room I have reserved is at the Hyatt Regency (the convention hotel) ...

Hi John, It might have been a John Hartmann. Regards, ~ jeannie Jeannie Grassi, RPT Registered Piano Technician Grassi Piano Service (206)200-0279 grassipianos@gmail.com

John, This is not an isolated problem. It largely originates from the fact that upright dampers are impossible to locate in the ideal location. Then, if the piano is particularly resonant, the problem you describe appears. Oddly enough, increased ...

Can anyone identify the signature on the underside of the replacement soundboard on this 1926 Steinway B? It's well done! Thanks! ------------------------------ John Minor The Piano Shop Inc Champaign IL thepianoshopcu@gmail.com www.thepianoshopcu.com ...

I tried mineral oil (drug-store laxative, which is only highly processed crank-case oil), it was OK. I have a customer who restores very valuable Japanese swords and he uses mineral oil, but it needs to be renewed or cleaned every few years. I believe ...

Let me know if you are interested (reply or text). I am open to hotel or Airbnb. Thanks! ------------------------------ Susan Russ Cleveland OH (201) 401-2604 ------------------------------

John The "echo" that you might be caused by all the dampers not being seated properly on the strings. Press the sustain pedal and see how much "lost motion" there is in the pedal before the dampers come off the strings. If they are coming off ...

I am new to the PTG (1 year) and this is my first post. Client has a 1983 Steinway model 1098 45" Studio Upright (with Sostenuto). First question: The client commented about an "echo-y" sound when striking a key in the mid-tenor. I found that there ...

Gotta be careful about putting anything on strings that could seep into wood. Remember the guy who used to oil pianos. His favorite was Tribotech, an engine additive, which he used on bridge pins. If you're rubbing it on strings with a cloth, make ...

A few years ago I performed a series of tests using a variety of materials to prevent corrosion. I tested WD40, museum waxes, oils, Ballistol and other materials and after over 6 months in a corrosive environment (under a covered southern California ...

Hi Summer, I can't help you with Vetituner, but as far as bass tuning goes, I have a few thoughts. Bass is the most harmonically complex portion on the piano. Additionally, below E2 (I believe), the upper harmonics generally have greater amplitude here ...

I also have a very wealthy client who lives right on the ocean with a nice 15 year old Steinway L. No rust on the strings. I discussed a string cover, but they said they didn't want or need one because the house is hermetically sealed and pointed to several ...

I finally attempted to log in and was successful. Fortunately, my old password is still valid. One big issue (among many with SPS) is no retention of order history. Things I routinely order I will not need to search for. I have not shopped yet, ...

You might want to give Balistol a try. I use it for many purposes, but what it is extremely good at removing surface rust. It then acts as a protector, slowing down further development of rust. No adverse effects to the unwound strings. Now, be aware, ...

Hi David, Thank you for engaging with me so actively all the time. Anybody can be at the mercy of poor mental health at any time. I was totally exhausted and feeling emptier than ever after I had completed my research into the Equal and Unequal Beating ...

Hi Tim, Thank you for getting back to me. I discharged myself from Priory Hospital Southampton yesterday. I am finally back home with my family! ------------------------------ Roshan Kakiya ------------------------------

Hi Paul, Thank for your your heartwarming message! ------------------------------ Roshan Kakiya ------------------------------

I asked the question more or less tongue in cheek. The telltale sign of a scam is how long it would take to tune the piano once it arrives in my shop.

Hi- I did finally get through. There was an email to the new site, which I did not get earlier, but supposedly is good now. There are several products not included on the new webstore and I had questions. but they can help with that when you get through. ...

Heh, I seem to remember a point where they were moving from Californian TO Tennessee. John, you might have wait till they unpack a million boxes. ------------------------------ Steven Rosenthal RPT Honolulu HI (808) 521-7129 -------------------- ...

normandy@samick.co.id My bad. Yes! ------------------------------ Elisha Katamura RPT Katamura Piano Service Fresno, CA (559)765-7373 https://www.katamurapianoservice.com/ ------------------------------

Thank You, Elisha. I've sent a message to both addresses. I assume that "Normandy" sh ould be followed by an @ sign rather than a period. Best John John A. Musselwhite, RPT Registered Piano Technician ...

I have received two emails, from two different people, offering to sell me attendee lists to the Arlington convention. Neither were from the home office. Have forwarded them to PTG but have not heard back as to their source or how they got my contact ...

It is working for me. If you end up at the homepage that has the word "webstore" in the upper right quadrant of the screen, don't click there. A little lower on the left there is a link, something like "view products". That should take you to a new ...

You are right. I didn’t have time to wait 3 days. The recital was Saturday. I used John Page’s CBL. It works great for a center pin lube. I doused them and worked the stubborn ones. I will find out how long it will last. New parts would be nice. The ...

I received it too. Anytime a message begins with, " I hope this message finds you well", it's a guaranteed spam. Roger ------------------------------ Roger Gable RPT Gable Piano Everett WA (425) 252-5000 ------------------------------

Yes, I did. Unfortunately I replied. I'll see what happens, hopefully nothing too awful. ------------------------------ Patrick Draine RPT Billerica MA (978) 663-9690 ------------------------------

Thanks Steve! John Sent from my iPhone

The U.S. Samick office is no longer handling parts, as it is in the process of relocating from Tennessee to California. For parts orders, they advised me to contact nuning.upright@samick.co.id and normandy@samick.co.id , which are with the Samick ...

I too have been trying for the past week..."nuttin". Phones are down also. I did see where they have a new, larger facility. I wonder if this is growing pains???? RJ www.onestipiano.com ------------------------------ Ralph Joseph Onesti, RPT ...

John, I believe the K & C is a Samick product. You're talking about the 'L' shaped piece with the pedal linkage at either end? Here is the info I have for Samick, I haven't spoken to them in a few years. Jane Jones Sales Administration & Piano ...

A piano as above, likely a Chinese or Korean made piano, model KM-121 MD is missing the practice pedal pivot that is right under the keybed on the left side. It could likely be a nylon or similar material with a hole for the pivot and two more for the ...

Hey Keith At this point in an old action, I think whatever works is legal if you’re just trying to juice it to keep it going I thought the Fantastik treatment was a good one, better than just about anything else I’ve tried As someone else said here, ...

Hi Eric, Investing a little time in examining the stringing scale is always a good idea And a great learning experience in my opinion Restringing a piano is quite an investment Every job is an opportunity to learn Ludwig uprights from the golden era ...

Any one else get this message? ------------------------------ Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT St. Augustine, FL 32095 Wim@Tnrwim.com ------------------------------

Eric, you might reach out to John at JD Grandt. I have a copy of John Travis' book, If you tell me which notes you have doubts about, serial and model I'll see if there is anything listed. I don't know if Randy Travis would be of much help, and ...

David, at the Rust Store they also have rust blocker in strip and cup form that I believe use the same technology. They also have it in a spray bottle, I was using that in my shop by spraying it on a piece of felt and putting it in tool drawers. Hopefully ...

Very sadly the Bull Frog Rust Emitter Shield is out of stock wherever I look. . . . :-( Best wishes David P -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

It is possible that the cleaning process might seat or render strings at the bridge and reduce false beats and increase stability. Might not be a bad idea, though I would never touch strings after a tuning. ------------------------------ Blaine Hebert ...

I tested a metal polish similar to FLITZ and it does polish steel well and quickly, BUT, in a corrosion test it actually corroded the strings over time. I don't recommend metal polish. Cleaning or polishing strings is best done before a tuning, I don't ...