John Leach

The most modern piano I own is a Yamaha Clavinova CLP-650, made in 1988, which is 7 years younger than my Realistic Concertmate, 50 years younger than my pianola and 82 years younger than my pipe organ.

Unfortunately it has a load of sticky keys and spraying it with various solvents just made it worse so I'm disassembling it completely, which takes ages because even electronic pianos have loads of bloody keys, and springs, and levers and shit.

#piano #repair

May 20 at 10:27pmWeb
Show threadJohn LeachJun 4

The repair of my 38 year old electronic piano continues...

#repair #piano

Show threadJames HoldenMay 20
@johnl I have a CLP-511 which is a bit more recent, I think. Other than cleaning an astonishing amount of cat hair out of it when I got it, I’ve fortunately never had to repair it.
Show threadJohn LeachJun 4
@jamesholden I've found almost every key and key weight to be coated in varying layers of grease, causing them to stick. I think my efforts to clean it with solvent just spread the lubricating grease further around. So has needed a full disassembly and clean.
Show threadJames HoldenJun 4
@johnl Toolstation sell some concentrated non-solvent degreaser that works very well. Much better than washing up liquid or other household stuff.
Show threadJohn LeachJun 4
@jamesholden tbh they are still tacky so that might be a good idea. There are a few, which one do you recommend?
Show threadJames HoldenJun 4
@johnl This is the one I have.
Show threadTamontenJun 4
@jamesholden @johnl can confirm citrus degreaser to be f’in amazin. If it can pull everything from an ancient bike chain it can probably remove anything.
Show threadJohn LeachJun 4
@tamonten @jamesholden ok excellent thanks! I had used 70% isopropyl first, which is my go-to. How come these are better? (other than the fact I don't to fill my sink with isopropyl :)
Show threadJames HoldenJun 4
@johnl @tamonten No idea on the chemistry. I use it for cleaning really manky stuff like the barbecue or the cooker hood, and it demolishes the grease. I think it’s a surfactant rather than a solvent. /fails chemistry again
Show threadJohn LeachJun 4
@jamesholden @tamonten no worries, I don't need the chemistry just your recommendation, thanks!
Show threadJames HoldenJun 4
@johnl @tamonten Bonus feature: Your keyboard will smell slightly of oranges for a while.
Show threadRobee? Na! 🌈May 21
@johnl “Looks like I picked the wrong week to give up 61 key pianos”
Show threadNathanJun 4
@johnl Wait... You own a pianola? That's fun... Does the pianola work?
Show threadJohn LeachJun 4

@idristhedragon yes! it will work when I finish repairing it. It is repairable and I have all the parts I need now. I'm slowly getting around to it (this electronic piano repair jumped up the queue as it's going to my niece)

https://johnleach.co.uk/posts/2023/06/27/i-went-to-the-dentist-and-bought-a-pianola/

https://mastodon.social/@johnl/tagged/pianola

I went to the dentist and bought a pianola – John Leach

Show threadNathanJun 4

@johnl It will be great to see and listen to when it's finished. I hope the restoration goes well.

I recently inherited my Grandads upright piano, and I have been toying with the idea of creating a thing to non destructively turn it into a player piano. My piano playing skills are very basic due to not owning a piano until now, but in theory I have the engineering skills to make up for it.

Show threadJohn LeachJun 7
@idristhedragon at this rate, if you have to wait until I've restored it to come see it you'll be a very old man. So best come see it sooner! And very happy to discuss automating musical instruments if you'd like! And my piano playing skills are very basic too, due to none of my pianos being functional!