Silencing a piano

[Carl Meyer]

They make special foam cutters but they are expensive. Try an ordinary
electric carving knife to cut foam. Works great.

Carl Meyer  Assoc. PTG
Santa Clara, California
cmpiano@home.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Servinsky" <tompiano@gate.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 6:51 PM
Subject: Re: Silencing a piano


> Or you can call Markertek directly        1 800 522 2025 and order either
> the 2" or 3" acoustical insulation foam.  This material is designed to
> contain sound, as you will see this material on most sound recording
studio
> walls. Also known as "egg crate" foam.
> A sheet (5'x3') costs well under $50 plus shipping, and  you can get
enough
> for 1 1/2 pianos. Cut and measure large triangular pieces by tracing the
> foam against the underside of the piano. Cut the pieces an extra 1/2" wide
> on each side so that the foam has to be squeezed into place.  No adhesive
is
> necessary.
> You'll need a fresh long razor blade to do a nice cutting of this
material,
> otherwise you'll make a mess out of the procedure...ask me how I know.
> The whole process will take about  45 mins. to cut and install.
> The material will reduce the sound by an additional 30-40%. Cut an
> additional piece for the top side if you want to make it sound like it's
the
> adjoining room.
> The beauty of only installing this on the underside is the player's
> perception of the piano is not affected by the foam attachment.  It's only
> those listening from afar that perceive the sound reduction.
> This is a common installation for Disklavier and other player devises.
> Yamaha Corp. was the one who played around with this concept first. Thus
> LaRoy Edwards was one of the experimenters in this area and now supplies
> most of the industry with pre-cut sound mufflers.
> Tom Servinsky,RPT
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom Cole" <tcole@cruzio.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 4:00 PM
> Subject: Re: Silencing a piano
>
>
> > Paul,
> >
> > Before you rediscover the wheel, you might talk to Laroy or Judi Edwards
> > at 800-924-2114. They have sound reduction kits that they will make to
> > fit, or maybe they'd be willing to discuss other ways to achieve the
> > desired results.
> >
> > Tom Cole
> >
> > larudee@pacbell.net wrote:
> > >
> > > One of my customers is a piano teacher who lives in an apartment
condo.
> > > A new owner just moved into the apartment under her and is complaining
> > > about the noise.  The piano is a 1919 5' Drachman grand.  I suggested
> > > closing the area under the soundboard with foam rubber and keeping the
> > > lid closed.  She wants me to get the material and do the work.  It's
the
> > > first request of this kind that I have had.  Any suggestions?
> > >
> > > Paul Larudee
>