<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: Schoenhut Kids Piano</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> On 3/20/04 6:20 AM, "MKurta" <mkurta@adelphia.net> wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE>    Hi Bill:     I just "rebuilt" a Schoenhut toy grand, here's what I found.  The old sound rods were in such bad shape, that I bought a new assembly from Schoenhut.  Strangely enough, they had new ones.  However, they were sadly out of tune, maybe thats the charm of a toy piano-to play slightly out of tune.       Using my Accutuner, I plucked each rod to check its pitch.  To raise the pitch, as Sarah said, I ground off a bit of metal from the end.  Be very cautious as a little metal means a lot of change.  To lower the pitch, I soldered a small amount of solder on to the end of the rod.  Be generous here, as you can file this off to come down to the proper pitch.  It takes a bit of time as I found each one to need correction (as in a piano) but it will sound great when you've finished.       Good Luck,     Mike Kurta </BLOCKQUOTE> Mike, Is there a toy tech class in your future?    Always looking for unique yet practical topics for the Institute.      Thanks for your tuning tips.  A student brought one to the shop needing keys and case work.  He wanted to play a composition that included  a toy piano .  Glad to know pieces/parts are available.     Look for you in Nashville. Joel -- Joel A. Jones  RPT Piano Technicians Guild Assistant Institute Director June 29 - July 3, Nashville, TN http://www.ptg.org/conv.htm jajones2@facstaff.wisc.edu 608/833-1488      </BODY> </HTML>