Why install a Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver (PLS) system? I have a full article on Dampp-Chasers, how they work, and why you may very well benefit from one. If you’re uncertain whether a Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver System is for you, start there! How much does Alex’s Piano Service LLC charge to install them? I’ve … Read more
Over a century ago, famous artists played on specialized instruments from Ampico designed to capture their work. Today, you can download those very same performances as MIDI files available for download! Your very own Disklavier can reproduce those century-old performances. What once were marks made by a nearly-extinct technology on chemical paper can now be … Read more
Customers regularly ask me which is the best humidifier for their piano and music room. Pianos are creatures of humidity: Wood is hygroscopic, meaning naturally absorbs and releases moisture from the air depending on the humidity level. Controlling that relative humidity in and around your piano is the single most important aspect of piano care … Read more
This article is an updated approach to connecting Yamaha Disklaviers to Wi-Fi. Previously, I used Powerline adapters to connect Disklaviers. In those cases, you weren’t technically connecting the Disklavier to Wi-Fi, but were instead bypassing the problem altogether by using the house’s wiring. However, I believe this updated approach is quite simple, somewhat less expensive, … Read more
A hygrometer is a device that measures the amount of moisture in the air, indicating the humidity level. It’s commonly used in homes, greenhouses, and industries to monitor and maintain optimal environmental conditions. Pianos have wood and metal inside of them, and both react to humidity in different ways. Wood is hygroscopic: it absorbs and … Read more
Have you recently received an email offering a free, high-quality piano to you, a “passionate instrument lover”? I periodically receive emails from customers asking me for guidance after receiving similar emails. See the email below for an example: GreetingsI am offering my late husband’s Yamaha Piano to anyone passionate about musical instruments. Please inform me … Read more
I’ve recently installed some external speakers for various Yamaha Disklaviers. Hopefully my experience with this helps somebody else! The Yamaha Disklavier Mark IV is a well-loved, sophisticated instrument. However, upgrading its control unit to the DKC-900 offers several benefits—most notably, access to Yamaha’s Enspire radio stations and On-Demand radio. This is one of my recommend … Read more
I have a customer who recently experienced an issue with his Yamaha Disklavier HQ100. The HQ100 is the Japanese version of the MX100II. He primarily uses this instrument over MIDI, and finds the Disklavier quite useful. This discussion should apply to other models of Yamaha Disklavier. Although the solenoids and part numbers differ between models, … Read more
I’ve had a couple of people reach out over the years looking for the bracket that supports the Yamaha DKC-850, otherwise known as the “hanger assembly.” The part number for this is, according to Yamaha, WT79210. Unfortunately, it’s been discontinued. However, you can use the hanger assembly for the Yamaha DKC-800, which is a perfect … Read more
The Yamaha HQ100 is a so-called “gray-market” upright. A gray market piano is one that’s authentically manufactured by Yamaha, but is not intended for sale in a specific geographic region or country. Instead, it’s sold as “gray market” — a market that exists outside the official distribution channels and is not authorized by the manufacturer. … Read more