The Patient: Marshall and Wendal Spinet

Initial Evaluation: Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz



Metal on wood, not wood on wood. I could stop it by pressing on the bass bridge at A0, but the middle of the piano buzzed, not A0.



Bridge and apron intact, besides, it's not a wood to wood buzz.

Pull the piano out from the wall, vacuum and blow out all the crud. Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz



The ribs are only 1/4" away from the back posts, so I start feeling around with a spring steel. Suddenly, Pling......a size 10 X 2" screw falls down. It was lodged between the rib and back post, impossible to see.

The customer said it's been buzzing for 10 years, and the last tech thought the soundboard was cracked.

Goes to show the productivity of an RPT. Good job!

I looked at one just last week where the last tuner told the lady that he thought she could fix it and left. This one is an Aeolian spinet. Yummmm.

I have an appointment with her tomorrow to fix it. Problem? One rib is split smack dab down the center of it lengthwise causing her buzzzzzz. Solution? Close the gap! Glue it n screw it.

Had a buzzy piano today that the prior tech actually couldn't find... it was an old pre standard upright...bad buzzing throughout the register. It was a poetic moment when, with the client looking on, I reached in and tightened one of the action bracket knobs, and waddya know...problem completely solved. My customer was over the moon as she'd been living with this noise for two years...

Finding buzzing is one of the most rewarding parts of doing this job, since its sometimes so completely fun!!...the screw, or guitar pics on the board, or the shelf above or grandma's dentures in a glass....

...that's how I get a buzz these days.

...sorry about that...

RPD

So

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quote:
Goes to show the productivity of an RPT. Good job!
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That's why deep down, inside, everyone secretly would like to be one!!!!!!!

Flame suit tightly zipped, under two layers of MOPP gear. Head well protected by a turban, super heavy duty carbon fiber cap, and a motorcycle helmet!!!

Good job, Bob. That's one for the book!!!

Had one yesterday on a older Yammy grand. Came from the top log buzzing against the top. Hit some notes in the treble and it made a terrific racket. Sounded like a dozen paper clips on the board. Had to really crank down on the screws to get it solid. They must not have drilled the holes in the top quite deep enough and with our current dry weather...bzzzzzzzz.

I had a nasty buzz the other day on one string of a new Charles Walter Console. Turned out to be a shaving from a bridge notch!

I had a Yamaha grand with a bzzzzzz. I checked all of the usually areas with no luck. About ready to give when I spotted on the soundboard a piece of uncooked spaghetti. I was laying parallel with the grain and the same color. The owners 3 year son to to blame for this.

Maybe buzz finding should be part of the RPT exam process !!!!

A terrific buzz in a Steinway grand defied all attempts to locate it. I resorted to a compressor and a good air nozzle. 'Still nothing. On a hunch, I applied air pressure to the bass bridge area while pushing down on the sound board. The buzz changed slightly. Air applied in the opposite direction with the downward pressure did it. A green marble rolled out!

Not exactly a buzz, but I was called for "a funny noise" on G5 of a Kawai console from the early '90's. The customer was disappointed that I couldn't hear it over the phone (me too). When I got there, the customer played the note and said, "It's not as bad as it was." Problem: the catcher (backcheck stop) and its stem had pulled out of the hammer butt, presumably had fallen into the action to make the funny noise, and but the time I got there had fallen away from the action completely, dangling idly from its little bridle strap.

That's a pretty typical problem on Kawai verticals even today where the catchers and other parts pop loose. I run into lots of loose hammer heads, butt heels, catchers etc., on a regular basis.

You know the worst kind of buzzzzzz? When a bumble bee flies in your window on a nice hot summers day and lands where you LEAST want it to land! That's an accident waiting to happen as you thrash around trying to get it away from IT.

Seriously though, if I can be serious, pressure bars are terrible places for buzzing.

I know, buzz off now... :rolleyes:

Bumblebees.

Don't get me started. I HATE those things.