keys not working

Dawn D · Post by **Dawn D** » 09 Nov 2005, 21:38

Hi, I'm going to look at 2 pianos tomorrow in the hope of bringing one home so myself and children can learn how to play. The pianos are both free to collector but both have 2 keys that are not working. How difficult and how much would it cost to repair this problem? I am told that the pianos have no other problem apart from they may need retuning. Both are upright.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 09 Nov 2005, 22:04

If the dud keys are at the ends, they've probably been used to donate parts to broken bits in the middle of the keyboard. Look to see whether the dud keys have hammers that move when you look inside. If there's a gap, you've got a hammer head missing. This may be elsewhere inside or have got lost completely. Look in the fluff and mouse droppings on the floor of the piano! I charge a fiver to repair a hammer shank, but more if I have to supply a new hammer head. If the missing notes are at the ends, don't worry - it'll be a long time before they're required, and you and the kids may be on another piano betimes they're needed.
If the dud notes are just sticking down, then it shouldn't take too much money or effort to free them.
Your best bet will ALWAYS be to get a tuner/tech to look at it, or ask the seller for the tuner's telephone number to check it with him/her.

Dawn D · Post by **Dawn D** » 10 Nov 2005, 07:19

Hello Gill, Thankyou very much for you help. I know that one of the pianos, the keys were both on the end! It sounds as if it would cost much to repair anyway. Do you know the average cost of tuning a piano? (I live Hertfordshire, if area makes a difference).

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 10 Nov 2005, 18:38

Well, look at it this way...you call out the man from Zanussi/Hotpoint, wotever, he clutters up your kitchen for quarter of an hour, applying the knowledge he acquired on a two-week training course, eats all your biscuits and clears off clutching a cheque for a hundred quid. We work for an hour applying knowledge acquired over three years at College and then God knows how many more years on the road, leave you with a tuned instrument and happy kids. And biscuit crumbs, obviously.All for under fifty quid!! What do you want for your sixpence, a bullfight?!! Seriously, though, if the pianos are cheap enough, get a tuner to give them the once over - it'll be worth it!