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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 31
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I have a similar problem with our newly acquired (recently rebuilt) 1927 M&H AA. A couple of the notes around middle C and up at times exhibit a metallic sound. It seems to mostly happen when played more robustly. Any ideas / advice? The tech said to wait a couple months.
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Joined: May 2006
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I wouldn't call the sound I'm describing as metalic, though I do have that with some other notes.
The only thing I haven't ruled out is the light fixture which is 9ft above the floor. I'll have to get a ladder out to check that.
Anyway, my dealer is going to send a tech out sometime in the near future. Hopefully he can remedy all my piano ailments.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 287
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I re-read your first post and realized you, too, are in Omaha -
Do you still need a name of a piano tech?
Send me a PM and can let you know who I've worked with before.
Steve W Omaha, NE
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 141
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Originally posted by Captain Obvious: I just got a new Kawai RX-2. I had it tuned Friday.
F5 on my piano is just a noisy key. Played p or lower, it sounds ok. If you start to get on it, there is a vibration noise as if something is loose. I'm wondering if anyone has some ideas about what would cause this?
If it turns out to be a loose screw somewhere or a couple pieces of wood that are almost touching but only get excited by a few notes, then I'm not too worried.
If the problem is a poor bridge connection to the soundboard or something else like that, well, that's a little worrisome.
I ran my hand all around the underbelly looking for any debris, and I also inspected the soundboard as well as I could to make sure there was nothing on it.
If I have my head in the piano at the bass end, I definitely perceive the sound coming from the area of that note, not somewhere else. So I do think it has something to do with the connection between the string and the bridge, or the bridge and the soundboard... but I could be completely wrong.
What do you think the most likely cause of this vibrating, honking kind of sound?
Also, can anyone personally recommend a tech in the Omaha area? I've been to the PTG site, but I have no idea how to pick from the 5 or so people on the list. Eenie-meenie miney-moe. I just saw a Kawai that had felt woven into the damper lever spring, I have had lots of those cause a buzz- sometimes I just stuff paper towel under the spring, but now I've seen something that looks nicer, even though you can't see anything down there. Also check hammer-string mating. Music desk and desk rails, Hinges' screws, sometimes a hinge pin almost coming out- allowing the loose end to buzz (Yesterday's discovery). There should be a FAQ for this...
Richard Barber, piano technician Santa Clara Valley, CA tune@pianoregulation.com
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I actually did find the cause for one of my issues. The C# in the second octave always sounded weird and didn't play as loudly as the others around it. It almost sounded like one of the unisons was being grazed, or was chirping almost like a big pipe organ when I played quietly.
I used a clean cotton towel to dampen one unison and then play the note. Then I switched unisons. One unison played fine, but the other didn't unless I struck hard. I'm guessing either my hammer isn't square to the strings, or the strings are uneven.
I actually noticed this strange sounding note in the store and the tech that was there tried needling the hammer a bit... seems like a strange solution for a note that was actually missing some gusto.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 292
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Hammer/string mating, as Mr. Barber says, will help even out the tone and get rid of lots of funky noises. It's something that should be done before "voicing" with needles is done.
Needling/voicing is the final touch on a piano where everything is regulated, hammers mated, piano tuned.
Promote harmony in the universe...tune your piano! Dave Stahl, RPT http://dstahlpiano.net/ dstahlpiano@sbcglobal.net
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 141
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Originally posted by Captain Obvious: ......
I actually noticed this strange sounding note in the store and the tech that was there tried needling the hammer a bit... seems like a strange solution for a note that was actually missing some gusto. Some techs prefer to needle straight thru (like a secant) across the crown under side of the hammer that would have been too low, raising the hammer felt by separating the fiber on that side. Others prefer to file/sand the hammers to match the shape of the strings, others prefer to lift the strings to match the hammers. Many will go thru a combination of these until the desired effect is achieved. For a second there I though you said you dampened the string with wet cotton. :p
Richard Barber, piano technician Santa Clara Valley, CA tune@pianoregulation.com
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No need to use a wet cloth since I had already sprayed down all the strings with Tilex to get rid of that ugly black mold that grows on them.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 390
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Originally posted by BDB: If it is a new piano, the person who tuned it should have repaired the note. Yes I agree here - the tuner should have repaired it!!! If he was paid by the dealer, then if he needed to spend more time, he shoud have charged the dealer!
Kawai RX6 Semi Concert Grand Roland HP-335 Digital Piano Korg Red PA700 Professional arranger keyboard
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 390
Full Member
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 390 |
Originally posted by Captain Obvious: I just got a new Kawai RX-2. I had it tuned Friday.
F5 on my piano is just a noisy key. Played p or lower, it sounds ok. If you start to get on it, there is a vibration noise as if something is loose. I'm wondering if anyone has some ideas about what would cause this?
If it turns out to be a loose screw somewhere or a couple pieces of wood that are almost touching but only get excited by a few notes, then I'm not too worried.
If the problem is a poor bridge connection to the soundboard or something else like that, well, that's a little worrisome.
I ran my hand all around the underbelly looking for any debris, and I also inspected the soundboard as well as I could to make sure there was nothing on it.
If I have my head in the piano at the bass end, I definitely perceive the sound coming from the area of that note, not somewhere else. So I do think it has something to do with the connection between the string and the bridge, or the bridge and the soundboard... but I could be completely wrong.
What do you think the most likely cause of this vibrating, honking kind of sound?
Also, can anyone personally recommend a tech in the Omaha area? I've been to the PTG site, but I have no idea how to pick from the 5 or so people on the list. Yes I agree here - the tuner should have repaired it!!! If he was paid by the dealer, then if he needed to spend more time, he should have charged the dealer!
Kawai RX6 Semi Concert Grand Roland HP-335 Digital Piano Korg Red PA700 Professional arranger keyboard
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,828
6000 Post Club Member
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6000 Post Club Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,828 |
Start by removing all objects from the piano.
Make sure the lamp that is used for sheet music reading doesn't have a vibrating filament or something else in it that is vibrating. Make sure something near the piano, a picture, glass ornaments, curio cabinets etc., floor vents etc., are not the cause.
Check to make sure that something, a pencil, paper clip or something similar hasn't accidentally been dropped or pushed onto the sounding board.
All of these are educated guesses from here of course but, everything mentioned above, screw tightening in particular, and key locks as well should be checked.
Kawai is very good about taking care of any problems. If the dealer isn't willing to help then, by all means, contact Kawai directly. You'll be surprised at how quickly they will respond to this.
Jerry Groot RPT Piano Technicians Guild Grand Rapids, Michigan www.grootpiano.comWe love to play BF2.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,018
2000 Post Club Member
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Tilex huh? Interesting. Very interesting.
Keith Roberts Keith's Piano Service Hathaway Pines,Ca
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