Tag: diy

DIYers Beware!

May 19, 2017 by SJ Piano ServiceNo Comments

I don't discourage DIY piano work. In fact, I think it's a great thing for piano owners to learn more about their instrument and even do repairs when they feel comfortable doing it. However, there are some potential pitfalls and it pays to be aware of them in advance. One of the most common accidents when working on a grand piano: pulling the action out without keeping a close eye on the hammers, and snapping off a hammer that was sticking up too high. The previous owner of this piano had done all the work on it himself, and while most of it was decent work, there were three different hammers that had been broken off in this way. They were all repaired, but unfortunately the repairs were causing other problems since they, as well, were each somewhat experimental. So, by all means, learn more about your piano and try your hand at tuning or repairing...but only after doing your research. And if...

What’s the most out-of-tune piano I’ve seen?

July 15, 2016November 30, 2016 by SJ Piano Service Comment Closed

Pianos do not naturally go out of tune this badly! For a single note on a piano to be this wild, it is highly likely that a previous owner tampered with the tuning pins in some way, perhaps in a less-than-successful tuning attempt. It would not be the first time I've run across that... I don't ever discourage people from working on their own piano - in fact, I think it's a good thing. Just make sure you do your research first and know what you're getting in to! Suffice it to say it's more complicated than it appears. A very out-of-tune piano...