Others have answered your question about cables but none so far have mentioned re-installing the action. I believe this is very important.
I have serviced more pianos with PianoDisc players than Disklaviers but you should be aware that any modern digital player has solenoid plungers that push up on the back of the keystick. Since you are unfamiliar with players I will add this very important precaution I was taught by a PianoDisc install technician:
1.) When removing the action on ANY grand, step on the damper pedal while pulling the action the first inch or two. This eliminates any extra wear or damage to the damper lift key end felts.
2.) When replacing the action in players, besides again pressing the damper pedal for the last couple inches, you should also depress ALL 88 KEYS at once to avoid the possibility of contacting and damaging any of the player's solenoid plungers with back end of the keysticks. To achieve this, use the keyslip. When you get the action almost completely installed, within about four inches or so, place the key slip, back side down, across the naturals AND sharps. As you press the keys down with the keyslip, look to see and verify that you're lifting all the hammers. After you confirm ALL the hammers are up, push the action all the way back into position.
I don't know if this is still necessary with newer players but I still do this whenever I replace a player action. Doing this insures you will do no damage to the solenoid plungers when reinstalling the action.
Original Message:
Sent: 8/20/2022 8:06:00 PM
From: Allan Sutton
Subject: RE: Removal of action fitted with Disklavier for hammer voicing
I will add that those systems require calibration after any type of action work, and regular cleaning under the keys....
Typically, it has never been done. If the thing has never been cleaned, regulated and calibrated, it may display all kinds of behaviour like sudden loud notes and poor control. This piano likely needs a full regulation, cleaning and calibration. Make sure they understand that the scope of this "tuning" is limited. And yes, have them test the system for you, and/or make ample written disclaimer. You don't want to hear "everything was fine before you tuned the piano" even if you and I know that it has been years since the silent was tried last.
Good luck!
Original Message:
Sent: 8/20/2022 5:48:00 PM
From: James Kelly
Subject: RE: Removal of action fitted with Disklavier for hammer voicing
I had a customer with a grand piano with a silent piano function. you flipped a lever I think and a rail stopped the hammers from hitting the strings. You played the keys but it would be like a high end keyboard with electronic piano, organ, various instruments- it had headphones for silent practice. I believe it was an after market device but I do remember having her play it before and after I tuned the piano. I may have had the action out and disconnected the cable(s) I will try to find my field notes and her service folder. Sometimes there are warning stickers once you have the fallboard out. ALWAYS UNPLUG from the electric outlet when you disconnect cables and apply juice after cables are re-connected. I have only serviced one upright Yamaha that had the silent piano feature.
If you can find the service manual for the silent function it may give you some step by step help. You may be able to search the internet and find help but get the name and model of the equipment first
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James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-20-2022 12:54
From: Benjamin Sanchez
Subject: Removal of action fitted with Disklavier for hammer voicing
I've seen the Yamaha Silent uprights but not a Silent grand, but I can't imagine it would be much different. There should be one (maybe two) cables to disconnect, but once you remove the fallboard it should (hopefully) become evident how to do it. Sometimes there are instructions written on the inside of the rim that you'll see when you remove the fallboard. Other times it's on the action rails somewhere.
On the ones I've seen, working on the action is almost identical to working on a non-Silent piano. The only difference I've noticed is a rail that, when engaged, will move to restrict the shanks just enough to prevent the hammers from hitting the strings. That rail registers which notes are being played and how hard, and transmits that information to the headphones. I assume it's a very similar design for grands.
All that to say, if you already know how to remove a regular action I wouldn't worry about it. It's very similar with just one or two additional steps. Just use your head and your eyes and you'll be alright.
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Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
Piano Technician / Artisan
(256) 947-9999
www.professional-piano-services.com
Original Message:
Sent: 08-20-2022 09:52
From: David Pinnegar
Subject: Removal of action fitted with Disklavier for hammer voicing
Dear John and James and anyone else familiar with Yamahas.
The owner of the piano tells me that it's not a Disklavier, thank goodness, but the mechanism that allows silent playing with headphones. I'm guessing this to be a tad simpler?
The venue, by the way, is
https://mani-sonnenlink.com/music-festivals/ and I can thoroughly recommend the area south of Kalamata for a very lovely life-experience.
Best wishes
David P
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David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
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+44 1342 850594
Original Message:
Sent: 8/20/2022 9:18:00 AM
From: James Kelly
Subject: RE: Removal of action fitted with Disklavier for hammer voicing
I totally agree with Jon's response. You ALWAYS want to test a player unit before doing any work on it that includes removing the action. It is not a bad idea to just test it before even doing a tuning because owners will say it played before you worked on my piano. So plug the thing in and play it. Make a note of the model number even take a picture and look for a serial number. Disklaviers have cables that run down the back of the pedal lyre I am not sure if that cable needs to be unplugged but it often gets broken at the plug by movers. When you take off the fallboard look for a wiring harness on the right side in the action cavity. You will need to disconnect this so take some pictures and note the position of the cable which I believe is a ribbon cable. Caution: make sure the unit is off and unplugged from the outlet when disconnecting and connecting cables. I would be willing to come there if you send me a round trip ticket. ha ha
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James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
Original Message:
Sent: 08-20-2022 07:15
From: Jon Page
Subject: Removal of action fitted with Disklavier for hammer voicing
There are only a few plugs to deal with but the most important aspect is to have the unit played to verify that it does work. You don't want to unplug, remove the action and work on it and have it not work when you put it back together. They will try to pin it on you.
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Regards,
Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com
Original Message:
Sent: 08-20-2022 03:49
From: David Pinnegar
Subject: Removal of action fitted with Disklavier for hammer voicing
A 23 year old Yamaha C3 is being used for concerts at an amazing place
where I'm tuning for a concert next week. The owner wanted me to do some work beyond tuning and the hammers are just a little on the hard side so ideally I'd like to be able to do some voicing.
However, the instrument is fitted with a self-playing mechanism and removal of the action is clearly not entirely straightforward.
The instrument is housed in its own self-contained air conditioned room halfway up the mountain for use in an outside amphitheatre but working on it during the day would expose it to high ambient temperatures - so I only saw it in the dusk and really can only do any work at such time. I explained that discretion was the better part of valour and that with this mechanism fitted I shouldn't be doing work on it, let alone under such constraints.
Hypothetically, how obvious is it to disconnect cables for the removal of the action and what risks or complications does one encounter?
Best wishes
David P
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David Pinnegar BSc ARCS
Hammerwood Park, East Grinstead, Sussex, UK
+44 1342 850594
"High Definition" Tuning
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