11. Clatter and Buzz Prevention

We offer tools for making the following repairs.
Pedal Parts and Hardware in our Online Catalog
Upright Piano Pedels from the Catalog
Grand Piano Pedals in the Catalog

Buzzes and noises which follow the striking of a key are the result of something loose in the piano. I covered how to find these noises in Chapter Six,   Point J. Squeak, Thump, Rattle, and Twang. But how do you prevent them?

First, Don't leave pencils, paper clips, and junk on the desk. This is especially bad with uprights and grands. The junk can drop off of the grand, fly down and around the top of the key cover (fall board), and jam right into he action.

I was opening up a grand with two keys stuck together. I told the lady that she could do this herself, especially after my book came out. She said there was no way she was going to open up her own piano. It was too mysterious. After I lifted out the desk and reached in to pull out the ball point pen, she asked to be put on the list to get one of my books as soon as it came out.

Tuners make a lot of good service call money fishing junk out of pianos. Junk can also get in behind the upright piano. Cats and little brats love to stash their special toys in the holes behind a piano in the lower parts of the framework. Reach around and retrieve the stuff occasionally.

Pedals and the levers and rods which operate inside the cabinet, can get loose and squeak and rattle. Open the bottom once a years, and tighten all the screws you can get at. Keep the pedals adjusted by consulting the later topic in this chapter, Pedal and trap repair and adjustment.

Watch for loose veneer. Repair it at once. Even consider loose objects and deco items on the wall and shelves near the piano.  Also, keep the action adjusted, and ask the tuner to give the action the once over to catch any loosening bits or pieces. A good tuner has almost got a second sense for this stuff.

  On to task 12.

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