By George, no matter WHAT I search for regarding pianos -- repair, maintenance, regulation, tuning -- it never fails that Howard Piano has a video on it! Not only that, but each one is actually USEFUL, not just flooding the net attempting to "corral" traffic to your site for sales...so bravo! Thank you for so many instructional vids and tips. That alone has earned you at least one paying customer, and I'm sure many more than just me. :-)
Thanks for watching. We do try and provide helpful videos. I'll be honest, our main purpose is to try and gain customers, but we feel if we actually offer something of value to potential customers they will more than likely be willing to purchase from us when they need something. We have really been pleased with the positive response we've received from our TH-cam audience.
I just bought a 1971 Baldwin studio upright piano like 2 days ago for $100, and man, is it dirty. It doesn’t look like it fared well or received regular maintenance in a long time. I checked the service record and apparently the last time it was even tuned was in ‘83. I’m not really an expert when it comes to taking apart pianos and such, but just watching videos, I’ve learned a lot, and I’m going to try and clean up this piano as much as I can. Video helped a lot, thanks :)
Thanks for posting this! I thought that something was stuck between my piano strings and hammers, and just you showing how to take off the action, I was able to just unscrew it, and the piece of felt stuck between fell out, and my piano was back to normal! Thank you!
i don't know if you have newer videos but i want to give you a sugestion, buy a portable mic so we can hear you clearly, because your content is very important! thank you for that. my friend bought a verrrry old upright piano (1909) very cheap, and she just brought herself into recover this instrument, and i am helping. we are total amateurs when talking about the mechanics and what to do and in which sequence we should do it. So for me you are the go-to to learn the several steps and details. thanks edit: by the way, if you have a video on how to clean rusty strings (without removing them) i would be very much appreciated
The most effective way to accomplish this task into place key #1 up to #88 on top of the piano lid which avoids possibly mixing them up as you can see happening in his video. If you do this you probably don't have to number them. But before removing them adjust the capstans so there is just a"wink" of play. Take out the action and place it away from the keys. That way you can quickly determine whether the touch is correct. Usually on old pianos, it isn't. Even new ones. If the key does not fall back into place (hangs up) you need to ease the keys and/or balance rail hole. Then vacuum the insides with a crevice device if there is one. I don't bring a vacuum as everyone already has one. Then replace the action and place the keys, one by one on the balance rail hole and see if they drop. If they remain suspended in air you need to ease the keys and /or balance rail hole with the appropriate tool. Touch is important. It takes about 5-10 minutes and avoids unnecessary callbacks. Plus the customer is made aware of your thoroughness. Tom lloyd www.mrtuner.ca
Thank you sir for posting this video. I am currently in the process of cleaning a Yamaha upright piano at the educational facility I work for. While I am not taking much of it apart should anything happen with it, seeing how the action and other components interact will help in knowing what to look out for as well as being aware of major dos and don'ts
I came into a 1900 Newby and Evans, going to pick up in a week or two, and this vid helped a lot to see what probably has to be done. Whether the action was designed to be so easy to remove is a good question. Great share, thanks.
What about rust? What if the strings have some surface rust? Do you recommend gently scrubbing the rust off the strings with, say, #80 Scotch Brite pads? Leave it alone? Restring?
If you want to put the time into removing rust on strings with a Scotch Brite pad that will do no harm and the strings will look better. Restringing is a major job and I would not recommend that unless the rust is severe.
@@howardpianoind Thanks! But how may the presence of rust on the strings impact tone? In this case I'm not too concerned about appearance as I tend to keep this vertical piano closed. But some notes do sound pretty nasally, while others have a nice, warm tone. So I wonder to what extent the rust may have something to do with tone.
I found frequently mouse nests, droppings and all kind of foodstuffs under the keys, winter storage for the little animals. Sometimes the skeleton or mummy of the rodent. They climb in via the pedal trapwork and apparently the space under the keys is an ideal hide-out.
Yes, this is something that you’ll run across occasionally. It’s best to try and avoid this because mice can do damage to the internal parts of a piano.
Is there any liquid or similar product for cleaning the strings on my upright piano? It´s impossible to reach every string with scotch brite pads to remove rust. TIA
ok so i snapped a bass string the whole thing is .234" and the thinner part of it is .055" any ideas where i can get a new string and this is a 1948 Kimball Consalette 504411
Ok, I am looking to buy a piano from 1896 and has only been cleaned in 1936 so, I don’t know what the heck I’ll find in that thing! I’m kind of scared!!😦
PianosAreAwsome!! My name is Clarence J Graham, Jr and I live here in Saint Louis, Missouri. I have an wood organ made by Camp and Company out of Chicago Illinois around 1896. She sits in my living room and am Looking Forward to speaking with you!!
Yeah, I’m thinking I will still have the professionals touch my piano. I searched how to clean piano because of the dust under the keys but it looks way too dangerous for me to attempt. I treat the piano like gold, no way I want to ruin it because I can never replace it or the wonderful memories. This looks cool though but we can’t perform surgery watching TH-cam unless we are trained to do so, working on the piano seems just as complicated.
It is possible that it hasn't been tuned for that long, but it is also possible that if it was tuned more recently that the tuner just didn't notate it in the piano. I don't necessarily mark inside the piano when I tune it.
By George, no matter WHAT I search for regarding pianos -- repair, maintenance, regulation, tuning -- it never fails that Howard Piano has a video on it! Not only that, but each one is actually USEFUL, not just flooding the net attempting to "corral" traffic to your site for sales...so bravo! Thank you for so many instructional vids and tips. That alone has earned you at least one paying customer, and I'm sure many more than just me. :-)
Thanks for watching. We do try and provide helpful videos. I'll be honest, our main purpose is to try and gain customers, but we feel if we actually offer something of value to potential customers they will more than likely be willing to purchase from us when they need something. We have really been pleased with the positive response we've received from our TH-cam audience.
I just bought a 1971 Baldwin studio upright piano like 2 days ago for $100, and man, is it dirty. It doesn’t look like it fared well or received regular maintenance in a long time. I checked the service record and apparently the last time it was even tuned was in ‘83. I’m not really an expert when it comes to taking apart pianos and such, but just watching videos, I’ve learned a lot, and I’m going to try and clean up this piano as much as I can. Video helped a lot, thanks :)
Thanks for posting this! I thought that something was stuck between my piano strings and hammers, and just you showing how to take off the action, I was able to just unscrew it, and the piece of felt stuck between fell out, and my piano was back to normal! Thank you!
Your videos are really helpful. Thank you. You are a very good teacher.
You're very welcome!
Thanks very helpful, just bought 1920 Cable upright piano to restore
This is a great video. Thank you so much!!!
We have a video on removing and putting the action back in the piano: Piano Tuning & Repair - Removing Vertical Piano Action
i don't know if you have newer videos but i want to give you a sugestion, buy a portable mic so we can hear you clearly,
because your content is very important!
thank you for that.
my friend bought a verrrry old upright piano (1909) very cheap, and she just brought herself into recover this instrument, and i am helping.
we are total amateurs when talking about the mechanics and what to do
and in which sequence we should do it.
So for me you are the go-to to learn the several steps and details.
thanks
edit: by the way, if you have a video on how to clean rusty strings (without removing them) i would be very much appreciated
Have replacement balance rail and front rail felts in case you accidentally vacuum up one of those.
Very useful video! Thanks!
Thanks for posting this. You just helped me fix my piano :)
Thanks for this. A bit of heat gun action on b flat and we're back in action!!!
The most effective way to accomplish this task into place key #1 up to #88 on top of the piano lid which avoids possibly mixing them up as you can see happening in his video. If you do this you probably don't have to number them. But before removing them adjust the capstans so there is just a"wink" of play. Take out the action and place it away from the keys. That way you can quickly determine whether the touch is correct. Usually on old pianos, it isn't. Even new ones. If the key does not fall back into place (hangs up) you need to ease the keys and/or balance rail hole.
Then vacuum the insides with a crevice device if there is one. I don't bring a vacuum as everyone already has one. Then replace the action and place the keys, one by one on the balance rail hole and see if they drop. If they remain suspended in air you need to ease the keys and /or balance rail hole with the appropriate tool. Touch is important. It takes about 5-10 minutes and avoids unnecessary callbacks. Plus the customer is made aware of your thoroughness. Tom lloyd
www.mrtuner.ca
Thank you sir for posting this video. I am currently in the process of cleaning a Yamaha upright piano at the educational facility I work for. While I am not taking much of it apart should anything happen with it, seeing how the action and other components interact will help in knowing what to look out for as well as being aware of major dos and don'ts
I came into a 1900 Newby and Evans, going to pick up in a week or two, and this vid helped a lot to see what probably has to be done.
Whether the action was designed to be so easy to remove is a good question.
Great share, thanks.
Good luck!
Thanks
Thank s
No problem! Thanks for watching!
Any way to clean the tuning wires of a 1930s baldwin.upright if rusty from wD-40 was applied previusly by mistake.
A Scotch-Brite pad, the blue one which is a light abrasive, can be used to clean piano wire, both the plain with and cooper wire strings.
this was very helpful! thank you!
Thanks Emily! I’m glad the video was helpful.
@@howardpianoind thank you so much for replying on my comment !
just got a mason hamlin what a heavy piano
They sure are! Mason & Hamlin has a patented turnbuckle system underneath the soundboard that adds some heft. Thanks for watching!
What about rust? What if the strings have some surface rust? Do you recommend gently scrubbing the rust off the strings with, say, #80 Scotch Brite pads? Leave it alone? Restring?
If you want to put the time into removing rust on strings with a Scotch Brite pad that will do no harm and the strings will look better. Restringing is a major job and I would not recommend that unless the rust is severe.
@@howardpianoind Thanks! But how may the presence of rust on the strings impact tone? In this case I'm not too concerned about appearance as I tend to keep this vertical piano closed. But some notes do sound pretty nasally, while others have a nice, warm tone. So I wonder to what extent the rust may have something to do with tone.
What about cleaning the strings themselves and in between the strings? Do you do that as well and does it help make the sound any brighter/cleaner?
Cleaning the strings doesn't really do much for the sound.
howardpianoind - Ah ok. I thought perhaps removing the dust from them would help make the sound better.
Thaaaanks
Thanks Howard... I can’t seem to remember the “how-to’s” (or find a video) on accessing the inside. It’s a Briggs upright, mirrored on top.
This video may be helpful: th-cam.com/video/RxFeBcsGtgg/w-d-xo.html
I found frequently mouse nests, droppings and all kind of foodstuffs under the keys, winter storage for the little animals. Sometimes the skeleton or mummy of the rodent. They climb in via the pedal trapwork and apparently the space under the keys is an ideal hide-out.
Yes, this is something that you’ll run across occasionally. It’s best to try and avoid this because mice can do damage to the internal parts of a piano.
This is oddly satisfying lol
Is there any liquid or similar product for cleaning the strings on my upright piano? It´s impossible to reach every string with scotch brite pads to remove rust. TIA
It isn't recommended to use any kind of liquid cleaner on the strings. Unfortunately there isn't a good solution for rusty strings.
can you buy this one for me
Obviously...
NOT!
ok so i snapped a bass string the whole thing is .234" and the thinner part of it is .055" any ideas where i can get a new string and this is a 1948 Kimball Consalette 504411
We sell replacement bass strings. Here is a link to these in our store: howardpianoindustries.com/custom-piano-bass-string/
I just bought a 68 Csble, quite clean, pingy sounding though.
Ok, I am looking to buy a piano from 1896 and has only been cleaned in 1936 so, I don’t know what the heck I’ll find in that thing! I’m kind of scared!!😦
PianosAreAwsome!!
My name is Clarence J Graham, Jr and I live here in Saint Louis, Missouri.
I have an wood organ made by Camp and Company out of Chicago Illinois around 1896. She sits in my living room and am Looking Forward to speaking with you!!
Cool
Hopefully this works... My little sister shoved pennies in between the piano keys.
I need to know what happened.
Yeah, I’m thinking I will still have the professionals touch my piano. I searched how to clean piano because of the dust under the keys but it looks way too dangerous for me to attempt. I treat the piano like gold, no way I want to ruin it because I can never replace it or the wonderful memories. This looks cool though but we can’t perform surgery watching TH-cam unless we are trained to do so, working on the piano seems just as complicated.
Yes, indeed. Thanks for watching!
I have an old piano and I’m scared it cannot be restored:(
If the piano is structurally sound it can usually be restored. You’ll have to determine if it is worth it to you to put the money into the piano.
just dissected my upright and there's some dates from the 40s I'm guessing that's when it was tuned last. My inside looks like a neanderthal cave
It is possible that it hasn't been tuned for that long, but it is also possible that if it was tuned more recently that the tuner just didn't notate it in the piano. I don't necessarily mark inside the piano when I tune it.
Ok but how to I put the action back?? You forgot that small detail.
testa rosso1 Same way you took it out. I'm sure there are videos on it
Upright or vertical are the same thing.
They're not actually. Upright is the term only for the very tallest pianos. Vertical refers to them all.