<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PostalCode"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> I agree with Patrick that it is not likely a string problem if the sound can be heard on adjacent notes. As he said, solving the problem can be a real time consumer. I always tell this to the customer so they don’t expect miracles. I explain that the piano is designed to be a resonant instrument and the tiniest loose part or faulty glue joint can cause buzzing. I make no guarantees that I’ll be able to find the buzz, but my track record so far is near 100%. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> A very common buzz on newer pianos is the brass lid catch on the inner rim. The two pieces tend to be slightly mis-aligned causing them to come loose after closing the lid a few times. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Don’t forget to check other items in the room: picture on the wall, clock on the shelf, etc. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Also look for loose screws in the back action, trap work and sostenuto mechanism. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Use a sound board steel to probe around under the plate to see if there is anything loose and sitting on top of the soundboard. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> After you feel like you have eliminated all possibility of loose parts, apply some thin CA glue to the root of the bridges. Then turn piano on side and run thin CA glue on ribs and around rim. To glue the rim joint on top squirt a near full bottle of glue at the joint and the capillary action will actually pull the glue vertically into the joint. Let sit for a few minutes then lightly mist accelerator over everything you’ve just glued. This will set up any excess glue to keep it from running onto the floor when you set the piano back up. It is not uncommon on even newer pianos for there to be voids in glue joints that cause this kind of annoying buzz. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p> <u1:PersonName u2:st="on">Dean May</u1:PersonName>             cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <o:p></o:p> <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:City u2:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Terre Haute</st1:City></u1:City> <u1:State u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">IN</u1:State></st1:State>  <u1:PostalCode u2:st="on"><st1:PostalCode w:st="on">47802</u1:PostalCode></st1:PostalCode></st1:place></u1:place><o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Patrick Poulson Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 12:51 PM To: Pianotech List Subject: Re: mystery buzz<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Jason: Since the buzz is activated by other notes being played, it is not likely to be a string problem. My first guess would be either a loose case part or screw, something on the soundboard, or a soundboard crack rib separation, although this is unlikely if this is a one year old piano. Loose case parts can be a real bear to track down. Lock mechanisms, hinge pins, or just about any small screw in the case or action can cause such a buzzing. Usually I will have someone play the offending note and go around listening to all sections of the piano. Some technicians use a stethoscope as well. You can eat up a lot of time trying to find these buzzes. Usually the offending part is not visibly vibrating, and a half turn with a screwdriver tightens a screw down and it is gone. Good luck! And charge for your travel time.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Patrick C. Poulson Registered Piano Technician Piano Technicians Guild<o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> <div> ----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='font-color:black'> From: <a href="mailto:jkanter@rollingball.com" title="jkanter@rollingball.com">Jason Kanter</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title="pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 8:55 AM<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Subject: mystery buzz<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> Group - I have been asked to travel a couple of hours to fix a mystery noise. To save time I asked the owner for as complete a description as possible. Here's the response:<o:p></o:p> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt; margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in'> I have a <st1:place w:st="on">Baldwin</st1:place> grand that has had a buzzing key since I bought it about a year ago... It's the B right below middle C. Been there since new.  I'ts not a buzzing exactly, but an "off-color" side tone.  The other tuner has worked on it 4 or 5 times, and replaced the string, with no help. Of interest is the fact that I can also hear it on adjacent keys (but to a MUCH lesser extent, almost inaudible).  I can't find anything loose that might be vibrating.  It's such a commonly used key that it's quite annoying. I notice it even when playing chords.<o:p></o:p> </blockquote> What do you folks suspect, given this description? What else should I ask to get a better premonition?<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Thanks in advance<o:p></o:p> Jason<o:p></o:p> -- =cell 425 830 1561= <o:p></o:p> </div> </blockquote> </div> </body> </html>