Current & Recent Projects
7' Baldwin Grand SF-10 #354040 (1998)
 
 
7' Baldwin Grand SF-10 #354040 (1998)
Ebony polish case. Reconditioned by Ray's Piano Service in November-December, 2015 for the owner in Nevis, MN, to address the problem of very bright, piercing tone. The owner seeks a more mellow, pleasing musical tone.
IMPROVEMENTS:
Complete Cleaning--Clean strings, pressure bar, keybed, keypins, pedal mechanisms.
Recondition Action—
Install new Abel hammers and new shanks & flanges. Tighten all action screws and replace defective parts.
Complete Regulation, Tuning, Voicing—All adjustments to ensure that piano plays like new, tune to A-440, voicing as needed.
01 Action removed

01 Action removed

02 Board & brigdes in excellent condition

02 Board & brigdes in excellent condition

03 Measuring string heights

03 Measuring string heights

04 Sample hammers & shanks removed

04 Sample hammers & shanks removed

Selected pictures of the step-by-step improvement process
CLICK PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE, THEN CLICK "CLOSE" TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE
From: Pierce Piano Atlas, 12th Edition (2008, Larry Ashley Publisher, Albuquerque, NM).

Note: To obtain the age of your piano and details about the manufacturer, click: Pierce Piano Atlas--"the world's most authoritative publication on piano manufacturers, past and present." To learn how a piano works and how to go about buying one, we encourage you to purchase The Piano Book.
A - IN OUR SHOP
05 Samples packed in styrofoam

05 Samples packed in styrofoam

06 Order & samples ready for mailing

06 Order & samples ready for mailing

07 New hammers - tails bored, shaped, tapered, numbered

07 New hammers - tails bored, shaped, tapered, numbered

08 New shanks & flanges - numbered

08 New shanks & flanges - numbered

Our shop is located in Becker, Minnesota. For contact information, go to the "Home Page"
Selected pictures of the step-by-step improvement process
CLICK PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE, THEN CLICK "CLOSE" TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE
Picture #2 - Soundboard & bridges are in excellent condition.
Original Manufacturer of this brand-name--D.H. Baldwin
Established--1862 by Dwight Hamilton Baldwin, in Cincinnati, OH.
Other brand-names used by this manufacturer--Hamilton, Howard, Ellington, Valley Gem, St. Regis, Schroeder, Franke, Acrosonic, Kremlin, Modello, Monarch, Sargent, Winton.
Other manufacturers of this brand-name--Baldwin Piano & Organ Co (1900-2001), Gibson Guitars (2001-2004), Dongbei Piano Group (2004-present).
09 Returned samples - ready for re-installation

09 Returned samples - ready for re-installation

10 Re-install samples, measure key heights & blow disstance

10 Re-install samples, measure key heights & blow disstance

11 Remove keys for cleaning

11 Remove keys for cleaning

12 Keyframe & pins cleaned

12 Keyframe & pins cleaned

13 Re-install keys

13 Re-install keys

14 Remove odd-numbered hammers & shanks

14 Remove odd-numbered hammers & shanks

15 Install new odd-numbered bass hammers

15 Install new odd-numbered bass hammers

16 Install new odd-numbered treble hammers

16 Install new odd-numbered treble hammers

17 Remove even-numbered hammers & shanks (1)

17 Remove even-numbered hammers & shanks (1)

18 Install new even-numbered shanks

18 Install new even-numbered shanks

19 Install new even-numbered hammers

19 Install new even-numbered hammers

20 Clamp hammers for removing shank tips

20 Clamp hammers for removing shank tips

21 Sand shank tips to tail surfaces

21 Sand shank tips to tail surfaces

22 Clean hammers & tails

22 Clean hammers & tails

23 Tighten action screws

23 Tighten action screws

24 With file roughen tips of tails

24 With file roughen tips of tails

25 Clamp bass section shanks for removing tips

25 Clamp bass section shanks for removing tips

26 Tighten bracket screws

26 Tighten bracket screws

27 Re-install stack onto keyfraime

27 Re-install stack onto keyfraime

28 Regulate hammer blow, letoff, drop, dip, back checks in bass

28 Regulate hammer blow, letoff, drop, dip, back checks in bass

B - AT THE PIANO OWNER'S HOME
29 Regulate blow distance

29 Regulate blow distance

30 Regulate key dip

30 Regulate key dip

31 Regulate back checks

31 Regulate back checks

32 Remove letoff buttons assembly

32 Remove letoff buttons assembly

33 Raise regulating button boards

33 Raise regulating button boards

34 Continue regulating

34 Continue regulating

35 Pre-voice hamemrs

35 Pre-voice hamemrs

36 Sand hammer surfaces

36 Sand hammer surfaces

37 Travel hammers, straighten swing where angled

37 Travel hammers, straighten swing where angled

38 Action is finished - Project will be completed at owner's home

38 Action is finished - Project will be completed at owner's home

39 Eliminate keyframe noise at bass

39 Eliminate keyframe noise at bass

40 Eliminate keyframe noise at treble

40 Eliminate keyframe noise at treble

41 Correct regulation of first key-to-hammer

41 Correct regulation of first key-to-hammer

42 Improve regulation of letoff & drop in bass section

42 Improve regulation of letoff & drop in bass section

43 Regulate damper levers for bass section

43 Regulate damper levers for bass section

44 Move top hammer for best sound

44 Move top hammer for best sound

45 Adjust shift mechanism

45 Adjust shift mechanism

46 Tuned

46 Tuned

47 Close-up of nameboard & keys

47 Close-up of nameboard & keys