Piano care Tips and Advice

How often should I tune my piano?
A new store bought, or newly restored piano must adjust to its environment. As it settles the first year, it may need up to four or more tunings. We recommend twice a year after that. The change in humidity is what affects it the most. And this change is most dramatic during the change of seasons. So tune your piano when you turn the heat on in your home for the winter and again when you turn the heat off for spring.

What product should I use to polish my piano?
Your piano is more than a musical instrument; it’s a decorative piece of furniture that adds beauty and value to your home. Take care of it by keeping it clean. We recommend using OZ furniture polish that can be purchased at most hardware stores or Plush furniture polish that we carry in stock. Plush may be used on all shades of furniture. In addition, it…
Does not alter the original finished sheen of surfaces
Does not increase or change the gloss of any originally flat luster finishes and
Prevents fingerprint marks because it leaves no oily residue.

Is a cracked soundboard ruined?
To quote the vice-president of a world-renowned New York piano firm, "a crack in the soundboard does not amount to a hill of beans—so long as the ribs do not start coming loose." In other words, if the ribs are tight there is still the possibility of crown in the board and bearing over the bridges, no matter how many cracks it has. In actual experimental tests, this firm cut out as much as a two inch width of board, paralleling the grain (leaving the ribs intact, of course), with no appreciable loss of tone. Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it?” Written by John Travis
John Travis's credentials: John graduated from Murray State University as one of the 10 most outstanding seniors. He joined the National Association of Piano Tuners, became its president and went on to form the International Piano Technicians Guild, Inc. in 1958. Mr. Travis and Mr. Erroll P. Crowl, were the first co-presidents of the new organization that was founded by and for tuners.
He is a Craftsman member of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Piano Technicians Guild and a member of the Past Presidents Club of that organization, which also elected him to the honorable Hall of Fame in 1976.

What’s the best way to clean piano keys?
Slightly dampen a clean cloth, add a little bit of soap and gently wipe the keys. Use small amounts of Spray Nine or 407 cleaner to take off remaining dirt or spots. But don’t apply any liquid directly on the keys. Apply it to the cloth and then wipe the keys.

How do I manage the humidity level?
Because pianos are comprised of wood, control over the humidity is essential to their performance. Otherwise the consequences can be damaging. Sticky keys, sluggish action, rusted strings, a cracked soundboard, a damaged pinblock, and rusted pins are just some of the results of uncontrolled humidity.
An effective solution is the presence of a humidifier during the winter months and a dehumidifier during the summer months. We highly recommend installing a Dampp-Chaser Climate Control System directly into your piano. It maintains your piano at an average of 42% relative humidity as recommended by major piano manufacturers. It promotes a greater tuning stability and prevents all the damages mention above.

Where should I position my piano?
The key to properly positioning your piano is keeping in mind that it is most highly affected and damaged by extreme swings of temperature. Therefore, place it near an inside wall and at least six feet away from heating vents, air conditioning vents, fireplace, and direct sunlight, which can cause sun bleach damage to the finish.

How can I whiten the ivories on my piano?
To whiten ivory, sand the ivory keys lightly with 150 grit sand paper, 220 grit sand paper, and then 400 grit sand paper. Then add a glossy finish by polishing them with auto body compound.