Pianotech

  • 1.  noisy back rail cloth

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-21-2021 22:19
    Greetings all,
    Usually I ask questions about things that bother me but not the customers. Not this one.

    The piano is a Kawai grand KG-3D from the 1980s, and the customer was obsessing about noise which didn't seem that unusual to me for a piano of this age. I isolated the noise to the keys hitting the back rail felt--no jacks making noise, nothing else I could find, no clicks or anything else. Just the return thump. Same sound in non-damper areas.

    The ideal thing is to replace it, but I'm just wondering if there are any other solutions that will avoid a regulation job. Has anyone, for example, tried needling the felt? Using VS Profelt? I don't know whether the felt is totally glued down on this piano. 

    thanks!

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    Scott Cole, RPT
    rvpianotuner.com
    Talent, OR
    (541-601-9033
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  • 2.  RE: noisy back rail cloth

    Member
    Posted 01-22-2021 10:00
    I would try cutting out a few inches of the backrail cloth/felt and putting a replacement piece in. See if the noise disappears, is less or is not changed. It is important to put the same thickness in. Cloth should not be fully glued down. Since the piano is close to 40 years old the felt may be hard, crusty as well as the glue. did you check the felt pads on the jacks. needling will probably not do much, fabric softener does not seem to last long. Susan Graham did a great article on felt issues in the PTG Journal some time back that is worth reading

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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: noisy back rail cloth

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-22-2021 10:39
    Hi Scott.  For some reason the "noisy Kawai action" thing is causing the mud in my memory banks to bubble a bit.  You may be chasing a dream here. 

    The industry in general was trying to cut costs in those days and using less material was a focus.  The keybed on some pianos was a sandwich  .....  top layer, bottom layer, filler blocks in between  ......  a hollow noisy chamber.  Good luck.


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    Larry Fisher
    Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
    Vancouver WA
    503-310-6965
    Working the gravy zone for the rest of my days.
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: noisy back rail cloth

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-22-2021 10:45
    I've had good results needling the felt a bit, fluffing it up just a little.   I think that I've heard of treating with alcohol and water could help.  Has anyone had experience with that?  Maybe I just dreamt that, but ultimately replacement takes the cake.  .
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    -Matt Crudo, RPT 
     



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: noisy back rail cloth

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-22-2021 11:42
    Is the backrail felt glued down at the front and back?  if it's glued at the back you might try just cutting it free so it's only glued at the front.  That sometimes quiets things down.  The old Steinway style is to have it glued down front and back but the newer method is only at the front.  It does make some difference over time.

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    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
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    Original Message