MaxPiano
31 Greenfield Avenue C1A3N3 Charlottetown, PE, Canada

I've had pianists ask why they should have their relatively modern (10-30 y/o) pianos reconditioned. I answer, "among other things, friction." These are called capstain screws. They are mounted in the back end of each key, and they are the direct link between the pianist's fingers and the rest of the piano's action. When a piano is reconditioned, every effort is made to reduce all points of friction. In this case, buffing these brass screws mitigates a critical point of friction, giving the piano a smoother, more responsive touch.

This always feels like an early Christmas. Thanks, self! These materials will be used in my two 1840s pianos.

Some unsorted progress pics of the Nasty Piano rebuild (1846, unidentified London maker). If you think the rest of it is bad, you should see the dampers! This piano has about as many dampers left as a hillbilly has teeth! I'll be manufacturing replacements.

Piano technicians operate in a number of avenues. Some work primarily in private residences; some are College and University technicians; some are high-profile concert tuners; some are in-the-shop rebuilders; and many choose to work in a combination of these disciplines. I'll tune for whomever I can, but what I love most is working "in the trenches," and taking on less-than-a-week reconditioning projects where the keyboard and action are taken into my workshop. These service...s are for clients who cannot take on the cost of rebuilding (restringing, new action components, etc.), or for pianos where a rebuild would not be justified for any number of reasons. Aside from the musical rewards of these projects, they are something of a historical adventure; you never know what artifacts will have fallen into a 121-y/o piano, or what will have been deliberately written or put inside. The cards pictured here were shims below the keyboard frame. Does anyone know what they are? @ Prince Edward Island

I have a nifty new page set up where you can self-book your tunings! I'm only available until this Wednesday AM, so book 'em while you still can! :) Tuning it now minimizes your chance of needing a more expensive pitch adjustment. https://gazellenetwork.com/schedul/pmcCsZBY41CyxMVqKdX8LjkH People often ask me when their piano should be tuned. If you're in the Maritimes, your best bet is *right about now.* With the Fall cold set in, your piano will have drifted away from pitch.

I've had pianists ask why they should have their relatively modern (10-30 y/o) pianos reconditioned. I answer, "among other things, friction." These are called capstain screws. They are mounted in the back end of each key, and they are the direct link between the pianist's fingers and the rest of the piano's action. When a piano is reconditioned, every effort is made to reduce all points of friction. In this case, buffing these brass screws mitigates a critical point of friction, giving the piano a smoother, more responsive touch.

This always feels like an early Christmas. Thanks, self! These materials will be used in my two 1840s pianos.

Some unsorted progress pics of the Nasty Piano rebuild (1846, unidentified London maker). If you think the rest of it is bad, you should see the dampers! This piano has about as many dampers left as a hillbilly has teeth! I'll be manufacturing replacements.

rosewood case and spruce soundboard stripped soundboard shimmed and repaired spray finish ready to apply pinblock glued and reinforced with heavy-duty bolts replacement matching front legs sourced... action rebuild underway new bass strings custom manufactured and rescaled at Pianophile Inc brass hinges and locks buffed all-new felts all-new German piano wire new nickel-plated tuning pins reinforced bottom board that extends to legs and has heavy-duty caster wheels about $900 in materials used alone This labour of love is going to be a *special* piano!

Stripped the shellac finish from the cabinet on the 1846 piano today (project code name Nasty Piano). What kind of veneer would you say this is? Rosewood? Walnut?

Spent most of today bringing this Montreal-built 1959 Lesage piano back to life. Now it's back to work in the shop for me, rebuilding the action of a tiny upright piano from the 1840s!!

Sun-whitening a set of ivories from about 1845!

This Kirkman piano was built in the mid-1800s, when Beethoven had only been dead for a few decades, and most of the Romantic composers were in their prime! I reconditioned it with an overhauled damper system, new felts, bushings, and reinforced the purely wooden (!) frame. No cast iron string frame here! I think that's what gives it that gorgeous woody sound. The piece played here is "Manila Belle", which was composed a few decades after this piano was built. This piano isn't for sale (it's MINE ;) ), but I have another one from 1846 that I'd like to find a home for. I'm going to sell it "at-cost" of materials for around $1K, and will include tuning/moving so long as there aren't too many stairs. So if you know anyone in the Maritimes who could use it, send me a message!

Two things: 1. I was watching TV today and thought that one of the commercials seemed mighty familiar. Sure enough, turns out there was indeed a connection -- almost 120 years apart!!! The vintage papers are shims that were used under the keyboard. Check out the pics.... 2. My code-name for this particular shop project was "Malheur Imminent". I'll give a special shout-out to whoever can figure why I gave that moniker to this 1898 instrument from the Featherston Piano Co.

"Piano Restoration = Doing the Same Things 88 Times," episode 3: 5 minutes of epic piano resuscitation.

Had a great time over at The Hill Sound Studio with Adam Gallant and his gorgeous 1927 Heintzman upright. These pianos are as good or better than any equivalent Steinway I've encountered--so book your recording session to check this one out! This video was taken after the pitch-raise and before the final tuning. The piece is "Through for the Day" by Willie "The Lion" Smith (pardon the flubs, I just picked up this tune last night), but I still have one more appointment after this. :)

"Piano Restoration = Doing the Same Things 88 Times," episode 2. New bass dampers for Mouse House.

"Piano Restoration = Doing the Same Things 88 Times," episode 1.

Replacing a couple shanks and hammers on a 1905 Autopiano! #piano #tuner #pianotechnician

Today's project (in back) is lovingly dubbed "Gigantor". It's from a 1905 Autopiano.

1892 Heintzman, project code-name "Mouse House", is shaping up nicely!

I mean, I was starting to get used to Mangus H...

This 1892 Heintzman from Bear River NS is getting some love! Shipments of piano supplies always feel like Christmas .

Overwhelmed by the support for my new page! Thanks so much. Two things: 1. I'm headed to PEI until Saturday the 25th for a round of tunings. Give me a call to book yours! 2. Every now and then, I'm going to post a "restoration journal" -- a new page in the Gallery section of my website that features walk-through text and photos about my recent projects. Here's the first one! http://www.maxkeenlyside.ca/amherst

I'll kick things off with this gorgeous 1914 Hardman piano owned by Tiber Falzett. I reconditioned, regulated, and tuned it. Thanks for stopping by!