Wasn't going to weigh in on this thread, but then along came Philip's post that made mention of ammo and condoms…
Long-time followers of this list may recall the first two items.
A persistent rattle on a C7 in a recording studio could not be tracked down until we resorted to a leaf blower which dislodged from under the plate two spent .22 caliber shell casings (probably vestiges of preparations made but not entirely removed). Since then, we have acquired an inspection camera so we can have a better look at what might be hidden from view under the plate.
This next item did not make any noise but was nevertheless a somewhat unusual thing to find in a piano. The lady who contacted me to "tune" her piano emphasized that she had heard I was of upstanding character. Didn't realize why that was so important to her until I got to her house. In scheduling the appointment, she was very particular about when I could and could not be at her home. Once there, she explained that her husband was a compulsive gambler, usually losing whatever money he could get his hands on. She had been stuffing cash through the strings of her Knabe grand into the action cavity over the years, and it was retrieval time. Her husband could not be present, of course, when this took place, which explained the specifics of scheduling the service call. Not wanting to reveal her subterfuge to her spouse, she paid me in cash from the nearly $1k in small bills, so there would be no evidence that I had even been there. Every relationship involves compromise, but still, I felt sorry for her having to enlist this workaround to ensure that not all of what was hers was his (I this case, to be squandered in his gambling addiction).
Finally, like Philip, I too have come across a condom in a piano. Unlike Philip, however, I could not say that the condom I found was unused…
Merry Christmas, y'all!
Alan
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Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-25-2023 10:51
From: Philip Jamison
Subject: Interesting soundboard noise source
Verticals can conceal a lot of stuff behind the kneeboard. In a school piano, I discovered some condoms (unused). In an older customer's studio upright, I went to work on the trapwork and discovered a rifle with ammo.
Original Message:
Sent: 12/24/2023 2:11:00 PM
From: James Kelly
Subject: RE: Interesting soundboard noise source
One of the high schools had a Baldwin missing the right side panel. Inside was a bunch of fast food wrappers, bags, soft drink cups and candy wrappers . Pressing the pedals created a crunching sound that led to the discovery. Never did figure out what became of the panel . SteinwayL in a home had a rattle in the bass section. Turned out to be a picture hanger. Not sure how that got in there since the piano lid hinges and spine where against the wall that had pictures on it
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James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2023 19:40
From: Larry Messerly
Subject: Interesting soundboard noise source
I got that call and told them it was not a piano problem but a dog problem and they should call a vet.
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Larry Messerly, RPT
Bringing Harmony to Homes
www.lacrossepianotuning.com
ljmesserly@gmail.com
928-899-7292
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2023 19:34
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Interesting soundboard noise source
How many people here have gotten the "my dog is stuck in the piano" call?
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Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2023 18:44
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: Interesting soundboard noise source
Answering a call about two slow returning keys, I quickly removed a flat pendant that had somehow gotten in between the two keys. Holding it in my palm I showed it to the owner who had no idea how it had gotten into the piano.
As we talked a little toddler came in the room. She swiped the pendant from my hand, scolded me "Oh, No, No, DaDa!" and neatly reinserted the pendant into the keyboard.
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Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2023 18:19
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: Interesting soundboard noise source
As many pennies and quarters as I have found under the keys the majority have been boring dates with few that were real silver and only the occasional wheat penny. I do remember one of the first pianos I ever worked on was a neighbor's upright; I had recently started my apprenticeship and felt confident enough to clean it out and found an indian-head nickel. In one messy household there was a collection of silver dollars that had fallen past the music desk of an upright. These were gifts from a relative but since they couldn't be used for purchasing anything they were carelessly tossed aside.
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Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 390-0512
Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2023 02:45
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: Interesting soundboard noise source
A Baldwin grand in a school band room had a soundboard noise. After a search with a mirror and flashlight I found this; an ancient mechanical pencil that was magnetic and stuck to the underside of the plate!
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Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 390-0512
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