As a piano technician with a subspecialty in keyboards, as well as digital and hybrid pianos, I’ve compiled this guide to address common issues. Drawing from my experience with brands like Yamaha, Roland, and Casio, I’ve put together a list of the most common problems I encounter! One or more keys play at full volume … Read more
How do I clean my keys? Carefully! My favorite key cleaning solution is Cory Key-Brite, which is available on Amazon. It can also be purchased at Starbird Piano in Portland or through me. Cory makes an excellent line of both cleaners and polishes, several of which are indispensable for routine piano cleaning. Lacking this, the … Read more
Why do pianos need to be tuned? Piano tuning is the first step in good piano maintenance. Pianos go out of tune as humidity changes. Here in Maine (and New England in general), indoor humidity is highly unpredictable: Constant small fluctuations in humidity mean your piano can go out of tune even more quickly than … Read more
Piano movers near me? Who do I contact? The United States The best place to look first is your local piano store. Even if they don’t move pianos themselves (and they might), they’ll know what movers are available in your area. Most importantly, they’ll be aware who is reputable and competent, which you can’t always … Read more
What is a Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver System? Pianos are creatures of humidity: Small changes in relative humidity can dramatically alter both the tuning and the lifespan of the instrument. Many customers struggle to keep the space around their piano at the recommended 42-45% humidity. To solve this problem, the Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver System … Read more
Can I upgrade my older Yamaha Disklavier? This is such a common question that Disklavier upgrades and modifications now have their own page! Read about PianoStream, which brings internet and an app to even the oldest Disklaviers, or about the Nalbantov, which replaces the floppy disk drive. If you have a newer system, such as … Read more