Apollo Piano

Another floppy powered Disklavier repaired!

The family has owned it since the 1990s and has not been able to use it for years. 😞

Now for a PianoDisc upgrade to bring this piano 30 years into the future.

But did you know Yamaha has a different kind of upgrade in the works? Maybe? 🤔 😉

Stay tuned!!!

My Key Easing Pliers were my dad's, which he said he acquired in 1948 when he attended the New York trade School on the GI bill for piano tuning.

Here I am using these now 77 year old pliers - in 2025 - on a Yamaha GB1K Baby Grand with a Disklavier Player Piano. Good tools definitely outlive their owners.

Why am I easing the keys, and what do the pliers do?

Pianos need to be prepped before delivery; if not, sometimes there are little problems like stuck keys.

This piano was purchased from another dealer, and the first tech said it needed "tuning and himidity control." Well, ya, they all do, but the bottom hole (not shown) was tight on many keys, and the bushings were noticibky sticky on many notes. After wiping and polishing the pins, many were better, but many needed key easing.

The pliers actually crush the wood fibers, and flatten the felt. unfortunately I don't travel with my key easing iron, which would’ve allow me to flatten the bushings. However, the new bushings are not all wool, and don't react to the iron the same way wool bushings do.

Why all the detail? Because piano technicians. 😉

For being an instrument made of wood, felt, and steel, there sure are a lot of things to think about

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