Please, download and listen the mp3 file. It's a record of me playing some keys with the "clacking" noise at the background when pressing the keys.

What is it?

http://rapidshare.com/files/224624263/essenfelder.mp3.html

UPDATE:

did this happen suddenly?
Could be loose key lead weights...
Could be something like a pencil on the keys...
It's a hard call.

I think I found which part is making this clacking sound... (all the keys have the problem)

Made a video, hope you can see! What the name of this part?

Hard hammer butt felt. Sort of a pain to replace all of it, but it can be done without too much skill.

It is the little rectangle of thick felt that the jack hits against when it is released.

does it can be considered a regular mainantance, BDB? How often does a piano suffer from that problem?

Thanks for your answer!

No, it is not regular maintenance. Either the felt was too hard to begin with, or they were glued poorly, and the jack is hitting against a glob of glue.

Just a thought....have you put a screwdriver to all the action screws to make sure there tight as a start?

Hammer butt flange screws are loose. My first thought.

If it is the jack stop, you might have too much keydip. The jack moves too far and the spring makes it slap.

The jack spring it too stiff. the jack shouldn't hit the stop so hard as to make a noise.

It's hard for me to tell because of the time delay. The wippen wire could be hitting on the back of the letoff button rail.

Dave, the noise comes when I release the jack and it hits the red felt.

In that case, I would agree with BDB.

1. All screws should be tight.

2. The butt felt, the red felt you referred to, should only be glued at the back, not at the top.

3. Needling the butt felt should help if that is the problem.

Test this on one note and see if that is the problem.

I agree with BDB too. Butt felt.

BDB, which screw are you talking about? could you please point it to me: http://www.pianoparts.com/upright/upright.jpg

Thanks

You need to tighten all the screws in the action.

All the flange screws, 3 for each note....



Jerry, what did the Butt felt like??? and just who's was it?

Just came across the same thing this week, setting dip on a M&H console, a couple of notes would click on the release...teach came over and played with the butt felt and whalla...gone. Said it can be a spot of glue, felt hard...hey, I think I might actually be starting to catch on....lol

It's supposed to "feel smooth, soft, cushy and pliable." This "butt" - "felt" will be hard from to much glue probably or, wear, and not worth sitting anything on. Note: It is also red. Maybe, one to many slaps or spankings from the jack?

The strange thing is that the noise comes from all the 88 keys

The best thing is to call in a good technician to assess the situation.

Already did that, but he can only see it in two weeks...

Anyone else notice the black butt skin and catcher skin?

Maybe this is a Baldwin which should have the butt and catcher skins replaced, and the butt felt can be done easily at the same time.

Did any other pianos use that nasty stuff? It's been a long time since I worked on a Baldwin, but this doesn't quite look like one.

Once repaired, the problem will be gone for good.

Don Mannino

No, it is an Essenfelder, a cheap Brazilian piano.

If the piano is new or nearly new, this should be a warranty item. If older out of warranty the but felts need to be replaced. Sloppy glue work at the factory is likely the cause. My guess is that it has always been this way since unboxed.