John Granholm (and everyone), I saw your post about the Atlanta dealer in trouble for importing ivory and wonder if you can legally import pianos with ivory keys - is there a lot of red tape or just not allowed. I saw about a dozen of A440's pianos about ten years ago and wondered where they came from.
From: pianotech-request at ptg.org
Subject: pianotech Digest, Vol 25, Issue 156
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:53:02 -0700
Send pianotech mailing list submissions to
pianotech at ptg.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
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--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: noahfrere at gmail.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:34:28 -0500
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Loose Let-off Buttons
wow...my first expanding action brackets
On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 10:38 PM, paul bruesch <paul at bruesch.net> wrote:
The YC bracket issue was my first thought. 1989 is outside the reported scope, but it'd be worth a call to YC with the serial number. Or maybe check first if the spread is way beyond spec.
I think they're still providing brackets. At our chapter meeting this week, I talked to a local tech who's encountered a piano with the issue. I don't recall if he said he'd talked to YC yet or not. I think he monitors this list... maybe he'll chime in!?!?
Excellent writeup about the problem and the fix in August 2009 Journal.
Paul Bruesch
Stillwater, MN
On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 9:29 PM, <tnrwim at aol.com> wrote:
Noah
The problem on this piano is probably not the loose let off buttons,but expanding action brackets. Weber grands were made by Young Chang. The action brackets on YC's for many years, for some strange reason, actually expanded, which threw off regulation.
YC used to give you four new brackets, but I don't know if they still do that, so give Young Chang a call, and ask if they still give them out. You'll need a serial number of the piano. The customer will have to pay to have new action brackets installed.
The latest information I have for Young Chang is:
Parts manager at Young Chang
John Chang, 866-798-6979 ext. 144
Jchang at ycapiano.com
Monica is the receptionist at ext. 0
But I heard that John is no longer there.
Wim
-----Original Message-----
From: Noah Frere <noahfrere at gmail.com>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thu, Nov 18, 2010 4:51 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Loose Let-off Buttons
There is a possibility that this 1989 Weber Grand's let-off buttons are slipping, since 1) they are very loose, and 2) supposedly the hammers began blocking more than once not long after regulations. This is the first time I've seen the piano, so I put a pencil mark in the center of the let-off buttons to check their possible movement when i return in 3 months.
If they do move, is there a way to tighten them up, like Loctite or something? Otherwise they will have to be replaced. At least the buttons themselves, if not the metal thread.
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: gnewell at ameritech.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:38:22 -0500
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Plate finish problems
Dale,
I just took a two day class on finishing and touch up from a guy named Greg Williams who put on this class together with my local Mohawk rep. This guy was really good and knew his stuff! He worked for Mohawk for something like 28 years and now teaches classes on his own. One of the things that he talked about was a professional refinishers forum on the internet. I’m guessing it’s much like ours if you can find it. This guy used to give classes at our conventions years ago. For those who monitor this list from our home office, he is available to do that again and would like to if there is any interest. Top notch knowledge. I’ll send him an email and ask if he’d like to answer your question.
Greg Newell
Greg's Piano Forté
www.gregspianoforte.com
216-226-3791 (office)
216-470-8634 (mobile)
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Dale Erwin
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 11:01 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Plate finish problems
Esteemed Techno- crats
I'd like to pick your brains. I need some help.
Because of the nature of our work we refinish a lot of plates every year.
We often get the spray canned special paint job and other times quite a decent finish but aged and other forms of stuff which needs re-whatevering.
But right now I have a Stwy B plate & the second finish that was applied previously is very thick and chippy and comes off easily in places and the other half won't no matter what. Trying to sand it makes a hodge podge mess. No matter how well you might feather all the edges it usually ends up showing up even through the new finish. We use acrylic primer and top coats with gold followed by clear coats. I have sand blasted two plates which takes of the Japanning/ porcelain under coat. I hate to go this route but in this case I'm stuck.
So... after the blasting it's a matter of using some type of primer to fill and smooth. I'd like to hear from anyone who has suffered in this way
So the question is... I would like to find a bare metal sealer/finish that flows and fills and sands easily. My thought is to locate something you can just pour/spray on and let it flow out. Similar to polyester. Get the idea? Hey any ideas welcome
Thanks
Dale S. Erwin
www.Erwinspiano.com
Custom piano restoration
Ronsen piano hammers-sales
R & D and tech support
Sitka soundboard panels
209-577-8397
209-985-0990
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: PAULREVENKOJONES at aol.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:24:49 -0500
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Somewhat OT: Guilty!
delete the "=" sign after html
In a message dated 11/18/2010 9:00:20 P.M. Central Standard Time, jtuner at qwestoffice.net writes:
Be careful importing pianos...
John Granholm
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2010/11/18/atl-piano-co-ceo-guilty-of-ivory.html=
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: koko99 at shaw.ca
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:03:24 -0600
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Fw: strings breaking/ Nordheimer / Mossaman
Thank you very much. Sure answered my question, and helps me make a
decision.
The dealer, who I have a good relationship with, is a good fellow, and I'm
sure tried
to satisfy this client, but finally had to give up, or I suppose give him
the store. I didn't
contact him about this event, but some day will mention it in passing.
Thanks again.
Carl / Winnipeg
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Nossaman" <rnossaman at cox.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 9:45 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Fw: strings breaking/ Nordheimer
> On 11/18/2010 9:06 PM, Carl Teplitski wrote:
>
>> Sounds like you may have the answer I was looking for, and it's the
>> manner of play that's causing the
>> breakeage. Changing to different strings would likely produce a
>> different tone than the originals.
>
> As least for a while, until those are broken too. In the 80's I saw a
> 4'-something high school vocal music teacher utterly destroy a new Baldwin
> studio in under a year and a half. We went through three full sets of bass
> strings, the last a "heavy duty" set supplied by Baldwin, and hands full
> of individual replacements. She stood at the piano, since she couldn't see
> over it sitting, and her full straight arm weight went into playing loud
> enough to be heard over (drown out?) the choir. I'd told her at the first
> string break that she needed a grand, and a big one, but that wasn't about
> to happen. The piano finally came back to the store worn out, patched up,
> and utterly worthless for resale as used. I'm not sure what they did with
> it, but it sure deserved better.
>
> I wish you luck, as it's unlikely to be any fun.
> Ron N
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: pmc033 at earthlink.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:34:25 -0800
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Somewhat OT: Guilty!
Hi, Paul:
His original post did not have the "=" and the link worked for me. How did that " = " get in there? Strange..
Paul McCloud
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: 11/18/2010 9:25:03 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Somewhat OT: Guilty!
delete the "=" sign after html
In a message dated 11/18/2010 9:00:20 P.M. Central Standard Time, jtuner at qwestoffice.net writes:
Be careful importing pianos...
John Granholm
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2010/11/18/atl-piano-co-ceo-guilty-of-ivory.html=
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: cosmo424242 at hotmail.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 01:47:40 -0500
Subject: Re: [pianotech] pianotech Digest, Vol 25, Issue 155
Dale, I used an auto body product on a plate several years ago. It was called feather-fill. I sprayed it on with a conventional gun I kept to use for primers and it worked quite well.
Brian Perry
From: pianotech-request at ptg.org
Subject: pianotech Digest, Vol 25, Issue 155
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:28:45 -0700
Send pianotech mailing list submissions to
pianotech at ptg.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://ptg.org/mailman/listinfo/pianotech
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
pianotech-request at ptg.org
You can reach the person managing the list at
pianotech-owner at ptg.org
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of pianotech digest..."
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: davidlovepianos at comcast.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:31:58 -0800
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Loose Let-off Buttons
Just make sure it doesn’t run down into the felt punching or it will turn it to stone.
David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Noah Frere
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 7:09 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Loose Let-off Buttons
Sounds good, thanks
On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 10:05 PM, David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net> wrote:
A drop of thin CA glue at the joint will take care of it and still allow for easy enough removal.
David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Noah Frere
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 6:44 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Loose Let-off Buttons
There is a possibility that this 1989 Weber Grand's let-off buttons are slipping, since 1) they are very loose, and 2) supposedly the hammers began blocking more than once not long after regulations. This is the first time I've seen the piano, so I put a pencil mark in the center of the let-off buttons to check their possible movement when i return in 3 months.
If they do move, is there a way to tighten them up, like Loctite or something? Otherwise they will have to be replaced. At least the buttons themselves, if not the metal thread.
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: davidlovepianos at comcast.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:32:48 -0800
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Loose Let-off Buttons
Yes, I didn’t pay attention to that fact. That is very likely the source of the problem.
David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of tnrwim at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 7:30 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Loose Let-off Buttons
Noah
The problem on this piano is probably not the loose let off buttons,but expanding action brackets. Weber grands were made by Young Chang. The action brackets on YC's for many years, for some strange reason, actually expanded, which threw off regulation.
YC used to give you four new brackets, but I don't know if they still do that, so give Young Chang a call, and ask if they still give them out. You'll need a serial number of the piano. The customer will have to pay to have new action brackets installed.
The latest information I have for Young Chang is:
Parts manager at Young Chang
John Chang, 866-798-6979 ext. 144
Jchang at ycapiano.com
Monica is the receptionist at ext. 0
But I heard that John is no longer there.
Wim
-----Original Message-----
From: Noah Frere <noahfrere at gmail.com>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thu, Nov 18, 2010 4:51 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Loose Let-off Buttons
There is a possibility that this 1989 Weber Grand's let-off buttons are slipping, since 1) they are very loose, and 2) supposedly the hammers began blocking more than once not long after regulations. This is the first time I've seen the piano, so I put a pencil mark in the center of the let-off buttons to check their possible movement when i return in 3 months.
If they do move, is there a way to tighten them up, like Loctite or something? Otherwise they will have to be replaced. At least the buttons themselves, if not the metal thread.
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: paul at bruesch.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:38:13 -0600
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Loose Let-off Buttons
The YC bracket issue was my first thought. 1989 is outside the reported scope, but it'd be worth a call to YC with the serial number. Or maybe check first if the spread is way beyond spec.
I think they're still providing brackets. At our chapter meeting this week, I talked to a local tech who's encountered a piano with the issue. I don't recall if he said he'd talked to YC yet or not. I think he monitors this list... maybe he'll chime in!?!?
Excellent writeup about the problem and the fix in August 2009 Journal.
Paul Bruesch
Stillwater, MN
On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 9:29 PM, <tnrwim at aol.com> wrote:
Noah
The problem on this piano is probably not the loose let off buttons,but expanding action brackets. Weber grands were made by Young Chang. The action brackets on YC's for many years, for some strange reason, actually expanded, which threw off regulation.
YC used to give you four new brackets, but I don't know if they still do that, so give Young Chang a call, and ask if they still give them out. You'll need a serial number of the piano. The customer will have to pay to have new action brackets installed.
The latest information I have for Young Chang is:
Parts manager at Young Chang
John Chang, 866-798-6979 ext. 144
Jchang at ycapiano.com
Monica is the receptionist at ext. 0
But I heard that John is no longer there.
Wim
-----Original Message-----
From: Noah Frere <noahfrere at gmail.com>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thu, Nov 18, 2010 4:51 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Loose Let-off Buttons
There is a possibility that this 1989 Weber Grand's let-off buttons are slipping, since 1) they are very loose, and 2) supposedly the hammers began blocking more than once not long after regulations. This is the first time I've seen the piano, so I put a pencil mark in the center of the let-off buttons to check their possible movement when i return in 3 months.
If they do move, is there a way to tighten them up, like Loctite or something? Otherwise they will have to be replaced. At least the buttons themselves, if not the metal thread.
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: rnossaman at cox.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:45:35 -0600
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Fw: strings breaking/ Nordheimer
On 11/18/2010 9:06 PM, Carl Teplitski wrote:
> Sounds like you may have the answer I was looking for, and it's the
> manner of play that's causing the
> breakeage. Changing to different strings would likely produce a
> different tone than the originals.
As least for a while, until those are broken too. In the 80's I saw a
4'-something high school vocal music teacher utterly destroy a new
Baldwin studio in under a year and a half. We went through three full
sets of bass strings, the last a "heavy duty" set supplied by Baldwin,
and hands full of individual replacements. She stood at the piano, since
she couldn't see over it sitting, and her full straight arm weight went
into playing loud enough to be heard over (drown out?) the choir. I'd
told her at the first string break that she needed a grand, and a big
one, but that wasn't about to happen. The piano finally came back to the
store worn out, patched up, and utterly worthless for resale as used.
I'm not sure what they did with it, but it sure deserved better.
I wish you luck, as it's unlikely to be any fun.
Ron N
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: jtuner at qwestoffice.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:00:05 -0800
Subject: [pianotech] Somewhat OT: Guilty!
Be careful importing pianos...
John Granholm
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2010/11/18/atl-piano-co-ceo-guilty-of-ivory.html
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: erwinspiano at aol.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:00:58 -0500
Subject: [pianotech] Plate finish problems
Esteemed Techno- crats
I'd like to pick your brains. I need some help.
Because of the nature of our work we refinish a lot of plates every year.
We often get the spray canned special paint job and other times quite a decent finish but aged and other forms of stuff which needs re-whatevering.
But right now I have a Stwy B plate & the second finish that was applied previously is very thick and chippy and comes off easily in places and the other half won't no matter what. Trying to sand it makes a hodge podge mess. No matter how well you might feather all the edges it usually ends up showing up even through the new finish. We use acrylic primer and top coats with gold followed by clear coats. I have sand blasted two plates which takes of the Japanning/ porcelain under coat. I hate to go this route but in this case I'm stuck.
So... after the blasting it's a matter of using some type of primer to fill and smooth. I'd like to hear from anyone who has suffered in this way
So the question is... I would like to find a bare metal sealer/finish that flows and fills and sands easily. My thought is to locate something you can just pour/spray on and let it flow out. Similar to polyester. Get the idea? Hey any ideas welcome
Thanks
Dale S. Erwin
www.Erwinspiano.com
Custom piano restoration
Ronsen piano hammers-sales
R & D and tech support
Sitka soundboard panels
209-577-8397
209-985-0990
--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: rnossaman at cox.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:29:09 -0600
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Plate finish problems
On 11/18/2010 10:00 PM, Dale Erwin wrote:
> So... after the blasting it's a matter of using some type of primer to
> fill and smooth. I'd like to hear from anyone who has suffered in this way
This was the worst. The topcoat was really hard, flaked off in some
spots, hung on like warts in others. I bought a needle scaler from
Harbor Freight and hammered the whole mess off. Roughly the equivalent
of blasting, but more work. <G> Evercoat Featherfill primer, sand
forever, and topcoat as usual. A true pain.
> So the question is... I would like to find a bare metal sealer/finish
> that flows and fills and sands easily. My thought is to locate something
> you can just pour/spray on and let it flow out. Similar to polyester.
> Get the idea? Hey any ideas welcome
I think you should stick with the blasting, rather than have the pour-on
magic elixir stick in some places, and not in others. I'd hate to have
to do one of these twice. Or if you feel lucky, maybe a marine epoxy
primer, and metal flake gel coat it. I Have ideas, just not necessarily
good ones.
Ron N
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