The piano soundboard Full-time Job

Piano sound boards are thin boards commonly made of spruce approximately 3/8″ thick glued together and extend from the bottom of the piano on a vertical, and the tail of the piano on a grand, to the pin-block and then across the full width of the piano. The soundboard has a crown which is very important to the tone and resonance of the piano. The back of the soundboard has ribs made of wood that are glued to the soundboard to strengthen and support the crown. Wood for soundboards, usually spruce, needs to be light and elastic. ; The best results are obtained when the grain of the soundboard runs parallel to the bridges. ; The bridges are usually made from maple and their primary function is to transfer the string vibration to the soundboard. Older piano soundboards often form cracks, especially where the thin boards are glued together. ; This is not detrimental or life ending for the piano. ; However, it can cause buzzing from certain frequencies. It can be repaired with re-gluing or even shimming. ; Soundboards that have several cracks, mostly due to age and/or large fluctuations in humidity over the life of the board, can lose crowns which would result in dull lifeless tone quality. ; If the crown is lost, soundboard replacement may be necessary to obtain good power and tone. It is best to have a used piano checked by a qualified piano technician to fully evaluate the piano soundboard and its condition.

Piano Pedals

The sounds available to you when you play are not limited to what you do with your hands. Piano pedals (the levers at your feet) enrich the sound in various ways, opening out possibilities further than the keyboard, from subtle nuances in dynamic to bold changes in the tone.

Five Uses for Piano Hinges

Piano hinges, also known as ‘continuous hinges’, represent one of the many types of hinges where 6, 7, and 8-foot lengths are not uncommon. One big difference between piano hinges and other hinge types is the fact that piano hinges will run the full length of the surface they serve – hence, the name ‘continuous’. Piano hinges are available in various thicknesses, pin diameters, widths, finishes, and customized designs. Regardless of the use, piano hinges are easy to install, are very affordable, and are extremely durable. This makes them perfect candidates for applications that are subjected to extensive use (or abuse) and intense wear and tear. When strength is a prerequisite, piano hinges will be found. Here are a handful of ways piano or continuous hinges are used every, single day.

What Are Piano Casters?

Piano casters are the wheels attached to the base or legs of grand and upright pianos to make moving your instrument easier. Casters come in a variety of styles and functionality.

What Piano Owners Need To Know About Casters

There may come a time when you need to move your piano. Generally, it’s not an easy task due to the piano’s weight. One of the things that make the moving process easier is casters.

This is good to know because you may want to replace the original wheels. The type of casters you buy depends a lot on your personal preference.

Piano wire

Piano wire, or "music wire", is a specialized type of wire made for use in piano strings but also in other applications as springs. It is made from tempered high-carbon steel, also known as spring steel, which replaced iron as the material starting in 1834.