Piano Service Archives - South Jersey Piano

Tharan keytops

September 22, 2017September 22, 2017 by SJ Piano ServiceNo Comments

To replace the old, yellowed, and chipped ivory keytops on this keyboard, the customer choose Tharan. Tharan is a relatively new substance developed by Kluge in Germany, with the goal of imitating the feel of ivory as closely as possible. It also looks beautiful, with a slight sheen that sets it apart from the standard plastic keytops used on most pianos. Furthermore, for pianists that are accustomed to the slightly better "grip" of ivory keytops, Tharan is an excellent choice due to its high mineral content and matte texture. The ivory trade, of course, has been very restricted throughout the world and replacing ivory keytops with new ivory is no longer an option. However, several options exist which very closely mimic ivory, and in many ways are superior. ...

New Season

September 20, 2017 by SJ Piano ServiceNo Comments

Although summers are busy in all kinds of other ways, the end of the summer season, the start of a new school year, and the change into fall weather brings with it a significant increase in piano work, particularly institutional pianos. A couple of times each year, I have to clean out all of my tool bags and toolboxes and reorganize. This is a small piece of what that looks like! I guess you could call it a "fall cleaning." As I return to blog posting after a couple month's hiatus, keep an eye out for some exciting projects and interesting work that took place over the summer! ...

Ben Patterson, RPT

November 30, 2016 by SJ Piano Service Comment Closed

I'm happy to announce that I am now a Registered Piano Technician (RPT) with the Piano Technicians Guild! It has been my pleasure to professionally service pianos for the last eight years. This year, I chose to join the Piano Technicians Guild and complete their certification process. The PTG is the foremost organization in the USA for piano technician certification, networking, and professional development, and I am happy to now be a professional part of it. For more information about the PTG, check out their website! www.ptg.org In the meantime, I'll be continuing to expand South Jersey Piano Service. I'll also try to get back to regular social media updates! ...

Keytop replacement – a world of difference

April 23, 2016November 30, 2016 by SJ Piano Comment Closed

New keytops can make an enormous difference in the look of an older piano, and it is a comparatively inexpensive job. If you feel that your piano is an eyesore, call or email for a quote! ...

Piano leg repairs done right

April 13, 2016November 30, 2016 by SJ Piano Comment Closed

This is a common repair: front legs on spinets and other small upright pianos break or split very easily. Fortunately, this was an easy repair, but if you have an upright piano with unsupported front legs, you should keep in mind that they are not designed to handle much sideways stress. ...

Social Media Links

April 9, 2016November 30, 2016 by SJ Piano Comment Closed

Approximately twice a week, I post pictures of pianos I have worked on, usually focusing on a specific aspect of piano care, maintenance, or repair. Sometimes they're educational, sometimes they're funny, sometimes they're scary, and sometimes just plain interesting. If you're a pianist or a piano owner, follow South Jersey Piano Service on Instagram and Facebook! You'll learn more about these incredibly complex instruments, and you'll be better informed when you have your own piano serviced. And of course, if you live in South Jersey, you'll know who to call! www.instagram.com/sjpianoservice www.facebook.com/sjpianoservice ...

Soundboard Cracks Demystified

March 12, 2016August 30, 2018 by SJ Piano Comment Closed

This is an example of a significant crack in the soundboard of a small baby grand piano. I am asked often about soundboard cracks, and often by people that have heard it's a "death sentence" for the piano, or that it means the piano "can't be tuned." Neither is necessarily true at all. While soundboard cracks are obviously undesirable, and in some cases can cause serious problems, they are quite common in old pianos and they are usually repairable. Depending on the nature of the crack, it may not even need any immediate intervention, but simply analysis and monitoring. Soundboard cracks are generally most harmful when they cause the soundboard to separate from the ribs which stabilize the soundboard and give it the appropriate crown. (The ribs are approximately 1-inch wide tapered wood beams that can be seen running diagonally on the back of an upright, or underneath a grand.) In these cases, a repair is necessary to reattach to...

South Jersey Piano Service

February 19, 2016November 30, 2016 by SJ PianoNo Comments

It is my pleasure to service pianos in homes, churches, and schools throughout South Jersey. I live near Woodstown, and work regularly in Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland counties. Visit the Services & Rates page to see current pricing for tuning and other standard work. Please also feel free to call or email if you have questions or would like to set up an appointment. Contact information can be found at the bottom of our site, or if you prefer, you can submit your inquiry through the Contact page and I will get back to you promptly. I am a Registered Piano Technician (RPT) with the Piano Technicians Guild, and I am also a certified installer of Dampp-Chaser® humidity control systems. For more information or to request a quote, visit the Humidity Control page. Thank you, and I look forward to working on your piano!...