Cracked Apron

[Dean May]

I would definitely test several strings to check for pin tightness and
resiliency of the wire. Occasionally you'll run across an old upright that
has no give left in the wire, it has work hardened and will not allow any
pulling up to pitch before breaking. If both those things are okay it should
"hold" a tune. 

 

If you don't want to do the full pitch raise check 3-4 strings in each
octave. Just lower the tension a little then pull it up 20 cents sharp of
pitch (you'll need some sort of meter for reference). If it feels springy
you should be good. If it feels like you are pulling up against a brick wall
you could be in trouble. Check especially the more rusted strings.

 

If the pins are loose then sell her on a CA job for the tuning pins as well.
You may need to do this anyway with the amount you are turning the bass
strings to fix the bridge. 

 

When lowering the bass string tension don't forget to grab the wire in the
middle and pull laterally as you loosen to keep the coils tight on the pins.
This will keep the wire from flexing at the becket and breaking. 

 

Don't forget also to check for separation of soundboard from ribs,
especially at any cracks. If you find 'em- CA glue 'em (or your favorite
method).

 

You don't need to repair the broken hammer to do a rough pitch raise, just
pluck those strings. Ditto for the notes where the keys don't work. And I
would think a single pass would be more than sufficient to tell you of the
pianos tunability health.

 

Good luck!

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Matthew Todd
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 8:47 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Cracked Apron

 

Hi List,

 

I gave my client an estimate for repairs for her upright she bought from a
private party for $100.  The repairs include new keytops, bushings (both
rails), new hammers and damper felts.  The piano is also 100+ cents flat.
This is the piano with the cracked apron.

 

Before I do any work, should I begin with giving it several pitch raises and
tunings to see if it'll hold?  The problem with that is that several of the
keys do not work right because they need new bushings.  So, should I
commence with the keys first and then tune it?  I just thought about the
customer paying hundreds of dollars for key work, and then hundreds more for
pitch raises and tunings to find the piano won't hold the tune.  But then,
how can I tune it well when the keys don't work right.

 

On one of the keys, the shank is broken at the butt, so I'll need to repair
that first.  And as far as replacing the hammers and damper felt, that could
be done very last.

 

I was just wondering about whether to do the keys first, or tune it first.
I thought maybe ya'll could tell with a few "rough" pitch raises whether the
piano will hold.

 

The strings are rusted, and the customer is aware of the risk involved here.

 

Thanks,

Matthew

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