At Amadeus Piano Co., Inc., we specialize in
custom restoration of antique pianos. We manufacture custom
piano action parts that are no longer in production, for custom
pianos and rare antique mechanisms as well as case parts.
Our trained, professional service technicians are
experts in grand piano, square grand and upright pianos of all
types, including spinet piano, console piano, studio upright piano,
full upright piano, upright grand piano, baby grand piano, concert
grand piano, and all types of acoustic pianos ever constructed in
the United States, and Europe.
Please follow the regular maintenance schedule for
your piano to preserve maximum value and proper response from the
mechanism and keyboard touch. Every piano should be regulated
(readjustment of all moving parts) at least every two years.
Proper piano action regulation should be accompanied by keyboard and
pedal regulation - all moving parts.
Please call us at (800)338-8637 for a consultation
or to schedule a convenient appointment with a professional piano
technician anywhere in NY NJ CT and bordering states.
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The working mechanism of the modern
acoustic piano is made from the same materials as those used
in the manufacturing of the first pianos - over 300 years
ago. The main components of the action are wood and
felt. Even the most famed and modern piano
manufacturing facilities fully assemble the mechanism by
hand. Because of its construction, the piano action is
liable to be affected not only by mechanical wear and tear,
but also by the ever-changing temperature and humidity
levels surrounding the piano. In order to prolong the
life of the action and its optimal performance, most
manufacturers recommend that the action be regulated at
least once every two years. Depending on the climate
and use, the schedule may be more frequent. This job
should only be performed by highly-trained, qualified
technicians because the quality and the life of the action
depends on the precision of the regulation. |
(below, from left to right) The first
picture below illustrates the difference between hammers and dampers
that have been re-shaped, and those that are worn. The second
picture below is taken from the reverse side of an upright piano
action - here you can clearly see the misalignment of the whippens -
causing such problems as sticking keys, added noise, etc. The
third picture is an example of how an amateur piano technician
repaired a broken hammer with a hollow metal shaft - proper
technique would require complete replacement of the hammer shank.
The fourth picture is an example of another quick-fix by an amateur
- using drinking straws to hold a broken hammer in place. Both
techniques actually weaken the hammer and can cause undue wear to
the action. Unlike some who claim to be our competition, our
technicians are skilled craftsmen who would never sacrifice quality
for a fast buck - we fix it right the first time!
Consumers Beware...
In a field such as piano repair and restoration, there are few
places for formal education and training. Many people learn
the trade from their parents, hence the establishment of firms
ending in " & Sons," which was commonplace in the piano industry.
There used to be a surge in the education of piano tuners and
technicians in the wake of war, where people who lost their sight
could find themselves useful in society again, but now there are
only a handful of schools offering such education. A piano
technician must first be a musician. In order to be able to repair a
piano to the specifications of the musician, especially for tone
adjustment, tuning, and voicing, you must be able to play the piano
very well. The Piano Technician should be able to diagnose the
structural condition of the piano by playing it, he/she must know
what the instrument should feel like when it's properly adjusted, in
order to be able to communicate with and understand the customer who
is a musician. Many technicians who call themselves professionals
are simply amateurs who only have partial and limited knowledge.
Don't let them experiment on your valued piano.
Here's an example of a recent letter
to us from an amateur technician who's been in the field for what he
claims is over 30 years:
"As a thirty year piano technician I feel obligated to comment on
something you've written concerning hammershank repair for an
upright piano.
You said it's an amateur's "quick fix" repair and "wouldn't hold
up in the long run." Well, in my experience that's totally wrong.
If the straw is used with a super glue (or even an aliphatic resin
like tight bond )and the straw is of the proper diameter to ensure a
tight connection of both shank segments it DOES hold up over time as
I myself have discovered. In fact, this splicing technique may be
superior to using the brass sleeves that have been sold by supply
houses. The only time it would fail is if the shank break isn't
clean and too close to the hammer. In that instance, replacing the
shank with a new one would be the only long term secure option."
- Mark Mandell,
msmandl@earthlink.net
If this technician was a pro, he would understand that in
order to function properly, a hammer shank doesn't just have to be
there, but it has to be flexible. It's true that if you dress it
with a straw and some "super glue," it will exist for some time, but
by no standards will it be able to perform its proper function,
altering the sound by hardening and dulling the sound, not to
mention the ugly look of a drinking straw in your piano! Lets call
it what it is, a quick fix, which is an amateur's way out of a
situation. We say: either do it right, or don't do it at all! It
takes the same amount of time for a professional technician to
replace the hammer shank that it takes to put a drinking straw on
it. Lets remember that a piano is more than some antique machine. It
has to work, yes. But it also has to maintain its value and
aesthetic look and sound.
No Quick Fix
Lubricants! 
If your piano technician is about to spray a
lubricant into your piano, aside from pedal mechanisms and such,
please stop them and ask what they're about to do. There is
just about no reason for a piano technician to spray a lubricant
into your piano's action. The mechanism is lubricated by graphite, a
dry lubricant applied when the piano action is taken apart. Most
types of other grease, such as WD40 will deteriorate action felt and
wood and cause further sticking of keys, odor, etc. The worst effect
of these sprays is that the damage on felt and wood is irreversible.
Replacement of parts today is very expensive, especially on antique
pianos. If your piano technician's reply includes: it will
stop the keys from sticking, throw them out of your home
immediately, and tell them that we said to do so! Sticking
keys are a sign of a problem such as misalignment. The piano
mechanism is not designed to be aided with such lubrication. If all
parts are assembled and aligned correctly, the keys will not stick.
The other potential cause of sticking keys is the change in
humidity, which is not fixed with lubrication either.
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send us pictures of quick-fizes if you wish to have them posted to
info@amadeuspianos.com
Click to enter our Piano
Key Restoration shop. We restore antique ivory piano keys,
ebony piano keys and piano key-tops. Plastic key-tops are
always available, as well as ivory key imitation called ivorene.
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