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FIX IT, RESTORE IT, AND TUNE IT YOURSELF !! Also called "Table of Contents" You are looking at an old Emerson from the 1890s. This piano looks terrible, but it appears to have no serious damage to the cabinet, and no veneer is broken. If the tuning pins are tight enough to hold a tuning, it is a great candidate for restoration. A natural wood finish would look great. Our customers are doing these pianos on a regular basis. We offer instruction in restoration and repair of old pianos and new. Our Catalog contains every- thing you will need to help and old lady like this make sweet music.   "Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice." Victor Borge From the book Copyrighted by Steve Van Nattan © Copyrighted by Stephen Van Nattan- 1996 HTML of site © Copyrighted by Stephen Van Nattan- 2001 All theft will be subject to prosecution Some copying of my material will be allowed.. IF YOU... Ask before you copy anything SEARCH THE WHOLE SITE:    Search this site or the web        powered by FreeFind     Site search Web search     Isaiah 38:20 The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD. Habakkuk 3:19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. I think it is interesting that the prophet Habakkuk invented his own stringed instruments.  The piano is merely a very large harp. Have any of you readers invented your own stringed instruments? INTRODUCTION This is the Table of Contents to a book for Do-it-Yourselfers.  It is uncluttered by splash and frills so that you can concentrate on getting the job done. The book tells you in plain language how to care for and repair your piano.  This Table of Contents will lead you through the book.  Also, in our Online Catalog you can order parts and tools to use in repairing your piano. You will notice some of the buttons below are indented.  That means they are sub-headers under a major Chapter or topic. I am available to you by E-Mail to answer questions-- Dumb questions  -  Smart questions  "HELP" questions-- And, I try to get back to you tomorrow!  And it's FREE! We also give you the catalog free and up front-- Online. ENJOY. You can turn off the music here.   MUSIC FOR BROWSING When you see the above icon, you may bring up the music browsing page. ORDER BY PHONE WITH A CREDIT CARD Toll Free Number for ordering:  1 (800) 338-8863 OR: Go to Mail Order Form for printing: OR: Pay by PayPal Email address to use to send payment: keith@stevespianoservice.com Ordering Customers CALL: (800) 338-8863 This dedicated number is for questions if you intend to order. For Technical support CALL: (906) 864-1437 If you bought your parts elsewhere, kindly ask that seller for technical support UP FRONT TO FELLOW TUNERS:         ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:                 WARNING:  Please read this.                         YANKEE ENGLISH Y'ALL                                 LINKS YOU MAY WANT TO SURF                                         MOST EXPENSIVE PIANO IN THE WORLD                                                 STEINWAY SQUARE GRAND 1865                                                        BÖSENDORFER 1892                                                                BILL KIBBY'S PIANO HISTORY AND DATA BASE   TABLE OF CONTENTS: For Online and CD Users All of the following is on The CD, and much more! The Catalog and Repair Contents are now much more inter-linked. PROFESSIONAL PIANO TUNING INSTRUCTIONS Only on the CD NEW SECTION: PIANO AND ORGAN MOVING INSTRUCTIONS Chapter One- GETTING TO KNOW YOUR PIANO Introduction: What are my qualifications? Music Entropy Requirements Chapter Two-  THE PIE-ANNA Introduction to Piano Care The Piano as Furniture Grands Spinets Uprights You got ta get da polish Keys Keep keys white by controlling light Chapter Three-   DO I HAVE A GOOD PIANO? What is a good piano Which is the best Piano? Chapter Four-  MAINTAINING YOUR PIANO YOURSELF 1. Tuning Your Piano 2. How often should a piano be tuned? 3. When should a piano be tuned? 4. Hints to help make the tuning last through the year 5. Courtesy to your tuner 6. Adjusting the Action 7. Moving a Piano 8. Know Thy Tuner 9. Checking the Tuning 10. Free Words of Wisdom Department Chapter Five-  GETTING TO WORK- OPENING YOUR PIANO Opening Your Piano-- Uprights Removing the Upright Action Removing a Spinet "Drop Action" Want to remove the keys? The Grand Opening Removing the key cover "Front Board" (Unofficial name) Or, Key Slip Removing the Grand action Re-installing the action Chapter Six-  TROUBLE SHOOTING YOUR PIANO A. A key sticks down B. Two keys stick together as they go up and down C. Key lever stays Down Or, Key broke D. Dead Hammer OR, Stalled in A Including Bridle Strap Replacement E. Jack the Slipper OR, Hit and miss key strokes, and double blows of the hammers F. Limber Neck OR, Floppy Hammers G. A Hammer broke off H. Straighten a crooked hammer I. Loose Tuning Pins J. Squeak, Thump, Rattle, and Twang  Music to rest your mind while you shop :-)   Baptist Convention At Calvary Amazing Grace Are You Washed Take the Name of Jesus At The Cross Banner of the Cross Blessed Assurance Burdens are Lifted Bible Stands Coming Home Draw Me Nearer Footsteps of Jesus Higher Ground Old Time Religion Great is Thy Faithfulness He Lives I Must Tell Jesus Jesus Paid it All Just As I Am Look and Live Lord I'm Coming Home Marching to Zion There is A Fountain Near The Cross Hold the Fort Nothing But the Blood I am Resolved Kneel at The Cross Saved Rock of Ages Oh, How I Love Jesus Shall We Gather at River? Praise Him Redeemed In The Garden Wonderful Words Beulah Land Sound the Battle Cry Stand Up for Jesus Sunlight Once For All Sweet Hour of Prayer Power in the Blood Send the Light Rescue the Perishing That Will Be Glory The Comforter has Come The Way of the Cross More About Jesus To God Be The Glory Trust and Obey When I see the Blood Gospel Medley Chapter Seven-  COMMON REPAIRS A LA CARTE The following are sub-topics under Chapter Seven: 1. Aligning grand piano hammers 2. Back check repair 3. Bench Repair 4. Bench- Upholstering as an option 5. Board just under the keys in front 6. Bridge and Agraffe Repair Bridle Strap Replacement 7. Broken wire emergency 8. Buckskin replacement 9. Buying a piano 10. Casters- Replacing and servicing 10.5 Center Pin Repair and Installation And Flange Bushing Replacement 11. Clatter and buzz prevention 12. Cleaning the grand sound board 13. Cleaning the Upright Piano 14. Damper repair 15. Decal Application (See also: Name Decal Application) 16. Desk repair- Spinet, Upright, and Grand 17. Dismantling or Destruction of a piano 18. Fire damage 19. French quaver voice 20. Front board warped 21. Hammer Back Rest 22. Falling out of the piano 23. Hangs up on Pedal Stick Hammers- 24. Bending crooked hammers on uprights 25. Hammer- Broken 26. Repairing Hammers using a Brass Sleeve 27. Hammer- Broken- Replacing Includes instruction on reattaching the felt head of the hammer to the wood molding 28. Hammers- Grand- Alignment 29. Hammers- Voicing and Buffing 30. Harp- Broken 31. Harp- Cracked, but not broken 32. Jack- Loose and repair 33. Jack spring replacement 34. Key dip adjustment- too much or too little 35. Key leveling and Key Lever Restoration Kit Instructions 36. Key tops- White and Black Replacement and Key Top Restoration Kit Instructions 37. Key Lever Repair 38. Key tops- ivory replacement 39. Key tops- cleaning 40. Key won't depress on Grand 41. Loose pins 42. Lost motion- Adjusting to eliminate it 43. Lyre repair on Grands 44. Moth, Mildew, and Fire Damage and Smoke Odor 45. Name Decal Application 46. Pedal and trap repair 47. Pedal- Grand- Key bed fails to return when soft pedal pushed 48. Piano tuner- How do I become one? 49. Piano use outdoors 50. Pin Block Separating from frame repair 50.5 Pin Block Replacement-- This is a link to a Web Site on pin block restoration 51. Plastic parts crisis 52. Refinishing the cabinet 52.5 Restringing a piano 53. Rubber Bumper replacement 54. School Pianos- Care and Defense 55. Selling a piano 56. Sound Board- Cleaning in Grand 57. Sound board- Repairing cracks and Improvised Crown Restore 58. Storing a piano 59. Tuning- Do it Yourself 60. Tuning pins- Tightening 61. Vagias elbow replacement 62. Veneer repair 63. Varmint prevention 64. Wire- Replacement of a broken one 65. Wires- Turning to brighten tone 66. Wood frame loose on bottom  PLAYER PIANOS 67. Maintaining player pianos 68. Varmints, Lubrication of Player Pianos 69. Adjustment of Player Pianos  70. Bellows repair in Player Pianos  71. Get a stalled Player going again 72. Square (rectangular) grands  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION WITH MY E-MAILED ANSWERS 73. FAQ Page from E-Mailed Questions and Answers  PIANO MOVING, INSTRUCTIONS, AND SUPPLIES 74. NEW SECTION: PIANO AND ORGAN MOVING INSTRUCTIONS TRADITIONAL PIANO MOVING SKIDS, STRAPS, AND SUPPLIES MOVING PADS, STRAPS, SHRINK WRAP, AND CARRYING SUPPLIES Ordering Parts and Tools Piano Parts and Tools Catalog Schaff Tuning Levers -- Tuning Meters   READ BOOKS POSTED HERE FREE These books are a start. We hope to have more music and piano servicing books soon. Also, these books are out of copyright, so you may copy them. Please leave the credit to Gutenburg Project on the front page where it is found. PIANO MASTERY Talks with Master Pianists and Teachers By Harriette Brower PIANO TUNING A Simple and Accurate Method for Amateurs J. CREE FISCHER PIANO AND SONG How to Teach, How to Learn FRIEDRICH WIECK THE PIANOFORTE SONATA Its Origin and Development J.S. SHEDLOCK (Load this on your laptop, and set it on the piano desk, and learn to master the sonata)   WE WILL DO THE REPAIR FOR YOU BY MAIL: CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE Appendix One- Professional Tuning Instruction-- only on the CD Professional Tuning Instruction now in Printed Format We now give you Stretch Charts to use with our tuning meters Appendix Two- Electronic Organs and Desperate Acts Appendix Three- Pump Organs and Desperate Acts Updates and Forum  Here is our idea exchange, along with your repair reports. Diagrams of Piano Actions   Bibliography Index Epistle to Piano Tuners   LINKS: Time Line History of the Piano http://www.concertpitchpiano.com/TimeLine.html Look at various tasks in restoration of a piano: http://pianos.hartmanstudios.net/Info/photos.htm Some shop pictures of piano repair: http://www.pianoman.bc.ca/shopPictures.htm Other tasks in piano work: http://rcraftsmen.com/moxie/pianos/process/step10.shtml Piano Technician's Guild forum-- Highly valuable: http://www.ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech/ The Steinway Story in brief-- Interesting: http://www.sherwinbeach.com/lenehan/K2571.htm If you feel lost or at a dead end and would prefer to have help from a man in the trade-- CLICK HERE     Load Robert Scott's TuneLab 97- 2.0--  Shareware--  $34 This software only available on the CD we sell. This is the best deal in professional tuning PC software. The complete program is here. STORE HOURS 9 TO 6 CDT GMT minus 5 hours Monday thru Friday Do not call on Sat. Sun. please ORDER PIANO PARTS BY PHONE WITH A CREDIT CARD CALL TOLL FREE: (800) 338-8863 If there is no answer, please leave a message- we do answer our voicemail OR: Go to Mail Order Form for printing: OR: Pay by PayPal Email address to use to send payment: keith@stevespianoservice.com BACK TO PIANO TITLE PAGE Contact the Editor / Author by E-Mail.   To the jerk de-jour in the purple Camero:

PIANO CARE AND REPAIR- Table of Contents, Repair, restore, and tune your piano.
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