Sunday, May 5, 2024

Grand Piano Regulation

For pianists, a grand piano is a majestic instrument capable of expressing a vast array of emotions. But that expressiveness hinges on one crucial aspect: regulation.

Grand piano regulation is the art of fine-tuning the action, the intricate mechanism that translates your keystrokes into sound. It's like meticulously adjusting the gears of a race car –  everything needs to be perfectly aligned for optimal performance.

Why Regulate?

Imagine a piano with sluggish keys or hammers that don't strike the strings evenly. The result? Unresponsive touch, uneven tone, and frustration for the pianist. Regular regulation ensures:

Even key touch: Every key should feel consistent, regardless of its position on the keyboard.

Responsive action: A well-regulated piano allows for effortless playing, enabling pianists to precisely control dynamics and articulation.

Optimal tone: Precise hammer strikes produce a clear, rich sound across the entire range of the instrument.

Long-term piano health: Regulation helps prevent unnecessary wear and tear on the action components, extending the life of your piano.

What Does Regulation Involve?

A piano technician with a keen eye and skilled hands performs regulation. Here's a glimpse into some of the adjustments made:

Key leveling: Ensuring all keys sit at the same height for a smooth playing experience.

Action adjustments: Fine-tuning parts like the let-off mechanism and damper timing for optimal responsiveness.

Hammer voicing: Shaping the felt on the hammers to achieve a desired tonal quality.

It's a Delicate Dance

Regulation is a multi-layered process that requires a deep understanding of piano mechanics and the ability to make minute adjustments. It's not just about following a checklist; a skilled technician uses their experience to tailor the regulation to the specific piano and the pianist's playing style.

Investing in the Magic

While piano regulation might seem like a technical mystery, it's an investment that significantly enhances your piano playing experience. A well-regulated grand piano becomes an extension of yourself, allowing you to express your musicality with freedom and finesse.

Considering having your grand piano regulated? Consult a qualified piano technician to bring out the full potential of your instrument and rediscover the joy of playing.

Get More Info : Grand Piano Regulation

Website : https://www.nypianoworks.com/

Contact Us : Piano Tuner Berkshires

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Service your action today! | Piano Regulation New York


One of the most often performed and most necessary things one can do to a piano is to have the action serviced. The benefits, compared to the cost, result in great value and a noticeable improvement in the performance of your piano.

Action Servicing involves three procedures: Cleaning the action, tightening all screws, and lubricating action centers. The procedure takes about an hour.

Cleaning is the first step. The action is removed from the Piano , dust and debris are blown out with compressed air (outside of course), and the action is wiped down with cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth.

Next, we tighten all the screws. In an upright piano action, that’s well over 200 screws! We tighten hammer butt screws, whippen screws, action frame screws, and damper screws. In a grand action there are fewer screws: Action frame screws, Hammer flange screws, and whippen screws.

Finally, we lubricate the moving parts. Most pivot points in piano actions are comprised of pins that ride inside cloth bushings. The lubricant that we use clears out dust and debris, lubricates the pivot point, and protects it from future damage. In an upright Piano Repair, we lubricate hammer butt flanges, damper flanges, whippen flanges and jack flanges, as well as balance rail pins. In a grand piano we lubricate hammer flanges, whippen flanges, jack flanges, and balance rail pins.

Action servicing should be done every three to five years, depending on usage and environmental conditions. In addition to making the piano play more efficiently and with less extraneous noise, servicing the action also affords the technician an opportunity to examine each of the many moving parts, and correct minor problems before they become major and costly ones. Make an appointment today!

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Contact Us : Piano Regulation And Voicing

Monday, April 22, 2024

Why It’s Important to Tune Your Piano | Grand Piano Regulation

There are around 230 strings on the average piano. Each string on the piano has a unique pitch and frequency that must be tuned to the other strings. The sound quality of your piano is determined by these strings, so they must be maintained properly. Due to stress, these strings can stretch over time, causing the piano to become out of tune. Seasonal Changes in humidity also cause the piano to become out of tune.

When pianos are tuned regularly, they are easier to tune, stay in good condition, and maintain their value. Piano tuning regularly also avoids damage caused by overstretched strings. It will be more expensive and time-consuming to get a piano back into tune if it hasn't been tuned in a long time.


If a piano hasn't been tuned in a long time, a piano tuner may attempt to correct the problem by raising the piano's pitch. This involves pulling all of the strings, resulting in a sharp pitch. When the strings naturally stretch over time, causing the pitch to go flat, this overcompensation should keep the piano in tune.

You should have your piano checked every six months to a year to ensure that the strings last as long as possible. If the strings are damaged too much or the keys are not properly working, you should take a piano repair service. 

Get More Info : Piano Humidity Control

Website : https://www.nypianoworks.com/

Contact Us : Piano Tuner Upstate New York

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Rebuilding vs. Restoration | Piano Regulation And Voicing

Every week, I speak with at least a couple of people who are interested in not giving up on their older piano, but rather bringing it back to a playable condition. There are two ways to do this: Rebuilding and Restoration. Both attempt to restore the piano to its former glory, but the philosophy behind them differs.

Rebuilding can involve anything from an action overhaul to replacement of soundboard, strings, and pin block. Where possible, new parts are used. I say where possible because while the industry became standardized around the 1920s, pianos prior to that often have parts for which it is impossible to find replacements.

For example, we are doing a rebuild right now for a client in Albany, a piano from 1909. The hammer butts and hammer assemblies are able to be replaced, but the whippens (the mechanism which transfers the energy from the key to the hammer assembly) are non-standard and must be reconditioned by cleaning and by replacing leather and felt where possible. 


Get More Info :  Piano Regulation And Voicing

Website : https://www.nypianoworks.com/

Contact Us : Piano Tuner Upstate New York




Monday, April 8, 2024

Wessell, Nickel, and Gross Actions | Piano Master Technician

Scott is a trained Action Rebuilder specializing in the composite actions from Wessell, Nickel, and Gross. These are the same actions that are in every new Mason and Hamlin piano. Call to learn about the benefits of rebuilding your action with these state-of-the-art parts! 

The name “Wessell, Nickel & Gross” then lay dormant from 1953 to 2005, when two brothers—Kirk and Gary Burgett—acquired it. Just as Otto, Adam, and Rudolph had new thoughts and ideas to improve the piano action in their time, so too did Kirk and Gary.

Perhaps the most radical of these ideas came from the fundamental question, “100 years ago piano actions were made of wood, since that was one of the best materials available at the time. Could we use the latest advances in materials science to design and create a better piano action?”

This question spurred research into modern materials such as composites and epoxy carbon fiber. The benefits of these modern materials became almost immediately clear—composites had the potential to be much stronger than wood, they could be easily customized and formed to much tighter tolerances, and they were extremely durable so their finished shape wouldn’t change over time. Before long, the advantages becameso numerous that it was obvious that composite materials had the potential to change piano actions forever.

Get More Info : Wessell Nickel and Gross

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Contact Us : Piano Tuner Upstate New York

Monday, April 1, 2024

PianoDisc Player System Installation and Repair | PianoDisc Repair

In the realm of musical innovation, where tradition meets technology, the PianoDisc player system emerges as a transformative addition to the world of pianos. Offering the enchantment of live performances at the touch of a button, this sophisticated system breathes new life into classical instruments. However, like any mechanical marvel, maintenance and repair are essential to ensure its continued harmony. In this blog post, we delve into the intricacies of PianoDisc player system installation and repair, exploring how it elevates the piano-playing experience.


1. The Symphony of PianoDisc: A Harmonious Fusion

a. Bridging Tradition and Technology:

Introduce readers to the PianoDisc player system, highlighting its role in seamlessly blending the timeless elegance of acoustic pianos with modern digital capabilities.

b. Musical Versatility:

Explore the versatility of the PianoDisc system, from classical compositions to contemporary tunes. Emphasize its ability to cater to diverse musical preferences with its vast library of performances.

2. PianoDisc Installation: Crafting Musical Magic

a. Precision Engineering:

Discuss the meticulous process of installing a PianoDisc player system. Cover the integration of sensors, solenoids, and control units, ensuring flawless synchronization between the piano and the digital components.

b. Customization Options:

Highlight the customizable features available during installation, such as playback modes, volume control, and compatibility with external devices. Illustrate how these options cater to the preferences of both pianists and listeners.

Get More Info : PianoDisc Repair

Website : https://www.nypianoworks.com/

Contact Us : Piano Tuner Berkshires

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Humidity Control for your Piano | Piano Finish Repair

Many people are not aware that humidity can have a profound effect on the tuning and performance of your piano. Humidity is a measure of how much water vapor is in the air, relative to the maximum amount of water vapor it can hold (that’s why it’s called relative humidity!).  Your piano is subject to wide swings in humidity. This is parrly true in, while in the winter, your heating system can drop the relative humidity in your home into the single digits.



What does this mean for your piano? When the humidity is high, the soundboard and bridges absorb moisture and swell, increasing the tension of the strings and forcing the piano sharp. When the humidity is low, the opposite happens - the soundboard and bridges release moisture and shrink, reducing the downward pressure of the strings and forcing the piano flat. This is why almost all piano manufacturers - and your piano technician - recommend that your piano is tuned twice a year. In addition to forcing your piano out of tune, increased humidity affects the action parts, swelling the wood and increasing friction, which can make your action respond sluggishly (a major cause of “sticking” keys).

How can you mitigate the effects of humidity on your piano? There are several options. The absolute best solution is to have your whole house humidity controlled. This involves either attaching a humidifier to your HVAC system or installing a separate humidifier/dehumidifier system in your home. While this is the best solution, it can be very expensive to install and maintain, and is usually cost prohibitive.

The next, and we think best, solution is to install a humidity control system directly in your piano. The Dampp Chaser company, makers of the Piano Life Saver system, is the only company making these systems. Over the past 74 years they have perfected their system and adapted it to work in all pianos. This system maintains the relative humidity of your piano within a few percent of the ideal level of 45% Relative Humidity. A humidistat regulates the humidity, similar to the way your thermostat regulates temperature. If the humidity is high, the humidistat activates low power dehumidifier bars to dry out the piano. If the humidity is low, the humidistat activates a humidifier - a gentle version of that which you might put in a room. Periodically, you must fill the humidifier tank with water. This can be disconcerting the first few times, pouring water into a tube that disappears into your piano!


Get More Info : Piano Rebuilding Upstate New York

Website : https://www.newyorkpi anoworks.com/

Contact Us : Grand Piano Repair

Grand Piano Regulation

For pianists, a grand piano is a majestic instrument capable of expressing a vast array of emotions. But that expressiveness hinges on one c...