Discussion Posts

I second Mr. Brusilovsky's suggestion. ------------------------------ Edward McMorrow Edmonds WA 425-299-3431 ------------------------------

Put drop of CA into bird eye , thinnest one, and use same size pin without rebushing Alexander Brusilovsky ------Original Message------ Sorry, I guess I didn't explain the problem. The centre pins are walking out as they are loose in the bird's eyes. ...

If I'm replacing a set with acrylic, I know I'm going to have to mill the keystick flat with my router sled (found in an old Journal article), so I just leave the tops in place and route them off at the same time.  Sometimes ivory can pop off partially ...

Sorry, I guess I didn't explain the problem. The centre pins are walking out as they are loose in the bird's eyes. ------------------------------ Peter Stevenson RPT P.S. Piano Service Prince George BC 250-562-5358 ps@pspianos.com ------------------ ...

I have used a plier-type upright hammer extractor to raise the b/c. ------------------------------ Regards, Jon Page mailto:jonpage@pianocapecod.com http://www.pianocapecod.com ------------------------------

What makes you want to rebush the flanges? Alexander Brusilovsky ------Original Message------ There isn't any cloth at all - the bushings are solid metal. ------------------------------ Peter Stevenson RPT P.S. Piano Service Prince George BC 250-562-5358 ...

There isn't any cloth at all - the bushings are solid metal. ------------------------------ Peter Stevenson RPT P.S. Piano Service Prince George BC 250-562-5358 ps@pspianos.com ------------------------------

I wonder if they used one long piece of tubing inserted bushing cloth and then cut the bushings with a super thin blade and then just press fit the bushings in the flange saddles or ran the cloth lined bushing through a group of flanges and cut after. ...

No, but I could envision one of those crank style hammer removing tools as possibly adapted to the task. Pwg ------------------------------ Peter Grey Stratham NH 603-686-2395 pianodoctor57@gmail.com ------------------------------

I've seen some references to a Japanese back check raising tool in the archives, in posts by Andre Ooerbeck, way back when.  I'm assuming it pulls the wire out of the key a little without mucking too much with the key or wire.  Does anyone know what he ...

Yes, that is correct. Normal size 19.5 centre pins ------------------------------ Peter Stevenson RPT P.S. Piano Service Prince George BC 250-562-5358 ps@pspianos.com ------------------------------

So the bronze, (looks like bronze to me) bushing is inserted in the wood flange? Normal center pins? ------------------------------ Edward McMorrow Edmonds WA 425-299-3431 ------------------------------

Several months ago I posted about a 2007 Heintzman upright that I thought had cloth flange bushings with a thin layer of metal on the outside. I can't quite remember why I thought this, but now that the action is in my shop, I see that it in fact has ...

So why though is it virtually Yamaha alone that has this problem? I have never seen it chronically on any other make. Pwg ------------------------------ Peter Grey Stratham NH 603-686-2395 pianodoctor57@gmail.com ------------------------------

Thanks, looking forward to it. I know in the past that Juilliard had some sort of shallow tray that would fit under the music desk. ------------------------------ Zeno Wood Brooklyn, NY ------------------------------

Im out on a trip. Will send next week Melissa ------Original Message------ Very interested, more info please! ------------------------------ Zeno Wood Brooklyn, NY ------------------------------

Very interested, more info please! ------------------------------ Zeno Wood Brooklyn, NY ------------------------------

I am still looking for a good frontal picture of a pedal lyre and the pedals that would be on a Lester 7 ' plus grand. All the pictures I have tried to view by google searches are side shots and most are small pianos. I thought I read not too long ago ...

Associated with possibility of jack ratio, may be knuckle size. Although, if one were to reduce the jack ratio, given modern regulation parameters, not sure you could cycle the jack through letoff, without increasing dip more than I would like to see...no?  ...

I think one of many components is jack ratio( jack out divided by jack in). I didn’t notice much studies on it and believe it worth attention. Alexander Brusilovsky ------Original Message------ Steve,  I have to disagree with what you said above.  ...

If needed, a hot DRY iron until they soften. Remove with a thin blade. I have a custom ground knife for the purpose. In every instance be mindful of the grain orientation and slice with the upward grain. Some keys have grain direction changes within them, ...

Hot dry iron, no water. Just heat until they soften. ------Original Message------ Hello all, What, in your experience, is the best method for removing key tops? Complete sets and individuals? Also, I'm asking with plastics that have cracked in mind, ...

If anyone is interested , i have a design for a debris catcher for the tuning pin area and fallboard gap on grands.  Keeps spills out of the action and pencils from going behind the fallboard. I lost interest in the marketing..... ------------------------------ ...

I have tried and have had no luck. ------Original Message------ Wondering if anyone has had luck getting parts from Steinway for the Bostons?  If so how long did it take? Thanks ------------------------------ Tony Graves Athens GA 850-499-2891 --- ...

I have found that (90% of the time)  a regular utility knife works just fine. Sometime they can be be a little bit stubborn but patience and persistence, and not slicing your fingers (don't ask me how I know) are key. Also, if you have trouble removing ...

Jim, I don't think we're in disagreement. I didn't mean to imply that their action frame is intrinsic to that touch, I wasn't clear on that. What I mean is that it's important that it still feels and responds the way an S&S is supposed to and that point ...

The primary reason to replace the cords without installing new flanges is of course to avoid the labor in repinning and then aligning the hammers with strings.  Yes, the flanges come with a pin already fitted to the bushing, but that doesn't guarantee ...

Steve,  I have to disagree with what you said above.  First,  I completely agree that the feel at letoff is the defining aspect of a great feeling action. Where I disagree, is to say that the arcane tubular brass rail stack is the cause of that feel. ...

Jim, thank you again . Seems you thought a lot on the subject. I hope it was painless. Thanks! Alexander Brusilovsky ------Original Message------ Jim, 👍👍 One could also simply tell them to send it to SS and let them do it. When they see THAT cost...phew! ...

Hello all, What, in your experience, is the best method for removing key tops? Complete sets and individuals? Also, I'm asking with plastics that have cracked in mind, though replies about ivories and cellulose are welcome too   :-) Thank you in advance, ...

Alan, I guess that's a blessing of being in the tropics where the rh rarely dips below 45% and is mostly between 50 and 70%. Things don't tend to get loose. That said, I'd gladly deal with some loose parts than the expanding lead weights we run into frequently, ...

That too is a good idea. Pwg ------------------------------ Peter Grey Stratham NH 603-686-2395 pianodoctor57@gmail.com ------------------------------

Jim, 👍👍 One could also simply tell them to send it to SS and let them do it. When they see THAT cost...phew! Pwg ------------------------------ Peter Grey Stratham NH 603-686-2395 pianodoctor57@gmail.com ------------------------------

We do it the same way as Roger, but many do their own string replacements I know.  Either works, but replacing with new is a lot quicker!  We keep three or four new sets of Yamaha flanges in stock because it seems we are constantly doing that job in college ...

I have the reamer tool sold by pianotek and it can be quite helpful with balance rail hole issues. To ease the balance rail holes I do not use the supply house tool but have a Flugelbauer tool that is tremendous because of its shape and feel. i had a ...

If it was rigid how is does it come in rolls ? I would think you are looking at something with a high mil rating. There are companies that wrap up boats for storage in the winter in boat yards so maybe that is a source to look into although I think it ...

Well, telephones used to be attached to the wall with wires too. Shrug.  This is an issue that is going to take a long time to sort out. In some ways I'm sympathetic with Steinway. Their grands distinguish themselves in part by their touch, specifically, ...

I would stick with the cost angle, because that's one of the only things that will overcome the "if its not a steinway its not a steinway" hokum. Money talks. If its made clear that Steinway, being a high end piano, requires high end prices, they will ...

Only one incident of loose underlever leads in 43 years, Steve? You must lead a charmed existence! I have encountered them on various makes, but as the bulk of the Yamaha grands at our school approached the three decade mark, those underlever leads started ...

Cy, you missed one that was mentioned, loose damper under lever leads. (of which I've run across exactly one in 43 years) ------------------------------ Steven Rosenthal Honolulu HI 808-521-7129 ------------------------------

Jim, thanks for great explanation. One of my concern are customers who believe it is not Steinway if it has not Steinway parts. WNG on tubular frame has same design as Steinway wooden parts, only different material and color. So if ignore fact of different ...

You can put thin sticks across the struts to stop the drooping, or use magnets. Please report if you find the stiff sheets, sounds like a good solution. ------------------------------ Steven Rosenthal Honolulu HI 808-521-7129 ----------------------- ...

Hello folks, I went to UW-Madison School of Music and last time I was there I saw that the grand pianos in the practice rooms had thin but very rigid white plastic sheets that laid inside as string covers.  I've emailed the head technician and asked ...

Thanks for the clarification, Dennis. I did not see CLP gel on the Pianotek website. Alan ------------------------------ Alan Eder, RPT Herb Alpert School of Music California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA 661.904.6483 ------------------------ ...

Hi- No, It's the Protek CLP lube in gel form, as opposed to liquid. Good stuff, and I presume Pianotek still sells it but I bought mine years ago. Best, D. -- Dennis Johnson Piano Technician / Music Office: 507-786-3587 | ...

Dennis, Couldn't find "CLP gel." Were you referring to MPL-1? Thanks, Alan ------------------------------ Alan Eder, RPT Herb Alpert School of Music California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA 661.904.6483 ------------------------------

Hi- This is only a last resort, quick solution- but in cases where sizing of the hole did not work out for any reason and you get a little click noise at first movement of the key, then try a very small dab of CLP gel on the pin right where the hole ...

Purchase a new set of flanges from Yamaha not a third party vendor. Remove bridle straps Remove hammer/flange assembly from action rail. Remove flanges from hammer butt. Install new flanges Yamaha flanges are sold with center pin installed ...

I agree, great post, Keith!. And I agree that lubing the balance hole is a good idea. I apply McLube with a pipecleaner, usually with all the keys in key clamps. Takes a minute. What we need to realize is that this is more complex than it seems at ...

It seems that the primary function of the BR pin is to keep the key from moving fore-and-aft. I may try a drop of silicone caulk at the bottom of the key. If it stays flexible enough to allow key movement, the hole could be much bigger than the pin, ...