Piano Servicing, Tuning, and Rebuilding: A Guide for the Professional, Student, and Hobbyist

Author:   Arthur A. Reblitz
Publisher:   Rowman & Littlefield
Edition:   Third Edition
ISBN:  

9781538114445


Pages:   344
Publication Date:   04 November 2019
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
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Piano Servicing, Tuning, and Rebuilding: A Guide for the Professional, Student, and Hobbyist


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Overview

All the information needed for restoring and maintaining pianos is contained in this clearly written volume. Arthur A. Reblitz provides the ultimate reference book and instruction manual for both the professional and the amateur. Professional piano technicians rely on Piano Servicing in their daily work, yet its instructions and the hundreds of clear drawings and photographs are so easily understood that any person handy with tools can quickly grasp the fundamentals of piano servicing and rebuilding work. At least twenty-five schools where piano servicing is taught use this as a text. Having sold more than 45,000 copies of the first edition, Vestal Press in pleased to have played a role in helping technicians and hobbyists rebuild, maintain, and tune untold numbers of pianos and is especially proud of the book's endorsement by the House of Steinway. This greatly enhanced and enlarged second edition has new material to benefit owners of the earlier edition.

Full Product Details

Author:   Arthur A. Reblitz
Publisher:   Rowman & Littlefield
Imprint:   Rowman & Littlefield
Edition:   Third Edition
Dimensions:   Width: 21.50cm , Height: 2.20cm , Length: 28.60cm
Weight:   0.943kg
ISBN:  

9781538114445


ISBN 10:   1538114445
Pages:   344
Publication Date:   04 November 2019
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Chapter One — Introduction to the Piano: Styles, Shapes, and Sizes Antique Pianos Victorian Pianos Twentieth-Century Pianos and Beyond Player Pianos Contemporary Trends Electronic Pianos Chapter Two — Inside Information: The Names of the Parts and How They Work Major Parts Cushioning Materials in Pianos The Soundboard and Bridges The Pinblock The Plate Downbearing The Tuning Pins The Strings Stringing Arrangements The Keybed and Keyframe The Keys The Keytops The Hammers Traditional Wooden Action Parts vs. Composite Parts The Vertical Action How the Upright Action Works The Dampers Upright Action Variations The Console Action The Drop Action Vertical Piano Pedals The Grand Action How the Grand Action Works The Grand Hammer Rest or Rail Grand Pedals Grand Action Variations The Square Piano How the Square Piano Action Works Chapter Three — Evaluating an Old Piano: Is It Worth Buying or Repairing? Selecting a Type and Size Recognizing Quality The Importance of Age Gray Market Pianos Evaluating the Condition Player Pianos and Empty Player Pianos Mirror Pianos Where to Find a Used Piano Myths Versus Reality Summary Chapter Four — Cleaning and Minor Repairs: Fixing Worn and Broken Parts Safety First! Basics of Tools and Woodworking Glue Joints Types of Glue Used in Piano Repair Lubricants Used in Pianos Modern Lubricants Traditional Lubricants Repairing Loose Screw Holes Removing Broken Screws Cleaning a Piano Opening the Vertical Cabinet Removing the Vertical Action and Keys Opening the Grand Cabinet Removing the Grand Action Removing Dirt and Debris Cleaning the Action Cleaning the Keys Reinstalling the Keys and Action Evaluating the Condition The Wooden Frame The Plate The Pinblock and Tuning Pins The Soundboard The Bridges The Strings The Keyframe The Keys The Action Action Rails Flanges The Wippen Assembly The Hammer Assembly The Damper Assembly Sluggish Action Parts Clicks, Buzzes, Rattles, and Other Foreign Noises Squeaks of All Sorts The Pedals The Cabinet Taking Care of a Piano Protecting a Piano from Environmental Changes Controlling Insect Damage Chapter Five — Regulating: Adjusting the Action, Keyboard, and Pedals to Work as They Should Basic Regulating Concepts Deciding What to do with Worn Hammers Regulating Tools Preparation for Action Regulating Vertical Action Regulating Vertical Regulating Checklist for Quick Reference Vertical Action Regulating Details Special Procedures for Spinet Pianos Partial Vertical Regulating Preparation for Grand Action Regulating The Grand Regulating Bench Grand Action Regulating Grand Regulating Checklist for Quick Reference Grand Regulating Details Grand Piano Touchweight Square Piano Action Regulating Action Regulation Problems: Their Symptoms and Cures Checklist of Common Action Problems for Quick reference Introduction to Tone Regulating Preparation for Hammer Voicing Hammer Voicing Making Hammers More Brilliant Chapter Six — Tuning Theory and Terminology Musical Tone Versus Noise The Vibration of Wire Simultaneously Vibrating Wires Musical Terminology Piano Note Numbers Standard Tuning Pitch What Pitches Form the Musical Scale? The Pythagorean Comma The Temperament Octave Cents Review Temperament Tuning Theory Theory Versus Reality Chapter Seven — Tuning Procedure Overview: What Does “Tuning a Piano” Involve? Aural and Muscular Coordination Why Does a Piano Go Out of Tune? Tools Using the Tuning Lever Tuning Exercises Tuning the Temperament The Potter F to A Temperament The Up a Third, Up a Third, Down a Fifth Equal Temperament Finishing the Midrange from C3 through B4 Finishing the Treble Finishing the Bass Hints for Using Mutes Final Tuning Tests The Pure-12th Equal Temperament Non-Equal Temperaments The Equal Beating Victorian Temperament (EBVT) Raising the Pitch Lowering the Pitch Electronic Tuning Devices Tuning Problems Tuning the Back Duplex Scale Tuning a Mason & Hamlin Screw-stringer Piano Tuning Two Pianos Together Tuning a Piano to an Organ Tuning a Piano in a Concert Venue Tuning Victorian Pianos Improving Your Tuning Skills Chapter Eight — Complete Restoration: Rebuilding a Piano in the Shop to Perform and Look Like New Practical Considerations Ordering Parts and Materials Restoration Cosmetics Preparation Disassembling the Piano Rebuilding the Cabinet and Frame The Soundboard and Bridges The Pinblock Refinishing the Cabinet The Plate Completing the Pinblock Restringing The Keyframe The Keys Replacing a Set of White Keytops The Sharps The Action Rebuilding the Vertical Action Rebuilding the Grand Action Finishing Touches Appendices One: Supplies, Parts, Training, and Other Resources Two: Drill Size Chart Three: Ivory Regulations Four: Baldwin Grand Plate Suspension and Acu-Just Hitch Pins

Reviews

This was the very first book I used when starting my tuning & repair business and continues to be a valued reference book today. The third edition expands on Art’s clarity and straightforwardness in presenting the material. -- Jim Fariss, RPT, MPT Everyone from piano owner to advanced piano technician should have a copy of the third edition of the new Reblitz book. The new edition is an expanded version with updates on tuning and techniques. The tuning section includes more details for obtaining a perfect tuning. Repairing your own piano has never been easier with the expanded repair section, taking the guesswork out of piano repair. -- Don Teach, custom piano tool maker and former technician for touring musicians Art Reblitz has such a humble, practical, encouraging way about him that directly translates to this book. I’m so pleased he has given us a new edition with a more usable table of contents, more in depth explanations and up-to-date products and methods we technicians use for repairs. A “go to” for the next generation. -- Laura Olsen, RPT, A Joyful Sound, Inc. With valuable modernizing augmentations throughout, the third edition heartily welcomes piano technology into the 21st century. It is one of the most important tools in my kit, and I believe it will be for years to come. -- Skye Meadows Jenkins, pianist, technician, teacher, Alabama Piano Gallery This much anticipated third edition of this classic provides excellent advice on inspecting a piano and diagnosing common action problems and is especially strong as a source of information on older pianos, particularly uprights. Focused on simplicity, the book lays a good foundation of knowledge without overwhelming a novice piano technician or ambitious amateur. Well-written and easy to understand, Piano Servicing, Tuning, and Rebuilding remains the most approachable manual on the topic today. -- Mario Igrec, RPT, M.Mus., Chief Piano Technician, The Juilliard School, author of Pianos Inside Out: A Comprehensive Guide to Piano Tuning, Repairing, and Rebuilding This is a must-have book in every piano technician's library and an invaluable resource tool for anyone working on pianos. -- Chris Finger, Chris Finger Pianos The cornucopia of information contained within is not only detailed with quality illustrations but also presented in a format that makes it understandable for students to follow. Every technician should have this powerful resource on their workbench! -- Robert R. Goodale, RPT, University Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Music


This was the very first book I used when starting my tuning & repair business and continues to be a valued reference book today. The third edition expands on Art's clarity and straightforwardness in presenting the material. -- Jim Fariss, RPT, MPT Everyone from piano owner to advanced piano technician should have a copy of the third edition of the new Reblitz book. The new edition is an expanded version with updates on tuning and techniques. The tuning section includes more details for obtaining a perfect tuning. Repairing your own piano has never been easier with the expanded repair section, taking the guesswork out of piano repair. -- Don Teach, custom piano tool maker and former technician for touring musicians Art Reblitz has such a humble, practical, encouraging way about him that directly translates to this book. I'm so pleased he has given us a new edition with a more usable table of contents, more in depth explanations and up-to-date products and methods we technicians use for repairs. A go to for the next generation. -- Laura Olsen, RPT, A Joyful Sound, Inc. With valuable modernizing augmentations throughout, the third edition heartily welcomes piano technology into the 21st century. It is one of the most important tools in my kit, and I believe it will be for years to come. -- Skye Meadows Jenkins, pianist, technician, teacher, Alabama Piano Gallery This much anticipated third edition of this classic provides excellent advice on inspecting a piano and diagnosing common action problems and is especially strong as a source of information on older pianos, particularly uprights. Focused on simplicity, the book lays a good foundation of knowledge without overwhelming a novice piano technician or ambitious amateur. Well-written and easy to understand, Piano Servicing, Tuning, and Rebuilding remains the most approachable manual on the topic today. -- Mario Igrec, RPT, M.Mus., Chief Piano Technician, The Juilliard School, author of Pianos Inside Out: A Comprehensive Guide to Piano Tuning, Repairing, and Rebuilding This is a must-have book in every piano technician's library and an invaluable resource tool for anyone working on pianos. -- Chris Finger, Chris Finger Pianos The cornucopia of information contained within is not only detailed with quality illustrations but also presented in a format that makes it understandable for students to follow. Every technician should have this powerful resource on their workbench! -- Robert R. Goodale, RPT, University Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Music


Author Information

Arthur A. Reblitz is a registered piano technician and member of the Piano Technician’s Guild. He is recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on restoration of orchestrions, coin pianos, and reproducing pianos. His shop, Reblitz Restorations, Inc., has restored automatic musical instruments for many of the world’s foremost public and private museums and collections. Reblitz is known worldwide as one of the finest arrangers of music for these instruments. Other books by Reblitz include Player Piano Servicing and Rebuuilding, Treasures of Mechanical Music (with Q. David Bowers), and The Mills Violano-Virtuoso (with Michael L. Kitner). He has written articles for The Guidebook of Automatic Music Instruments, Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments, the News Bulletin of the Musical Box Society International, the Bulletin of the Automatic Musical Instrument Collector’s Association, and The Coin Slot magazine. He is the 1982 recipient of the Literary Award of the Musical Box Society for Outstanding Literary Contributions to the Field of Automatic Music and the 1993 recipient of the Leo Ornstein Literary Award of the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors’ Association.

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