Posted 7 years ago
nannah
(37 items)
I'm in need of some major advise ! I want to remove the harp from the body of the piano but want to keep the strings attached . Is that at all possible !
In trying to move it back against the wall of my storage unit I discovered one of the casters was broke & it fell over on to it's back ! Yes very noisy but no casualties !!
Any ideas ?
ABSOLUTELY >>NO<< -- DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TRY TO DO THAT!!!!
Those strings literally create *MANY THOUSANDS of pounds* worth of tension between the opposite ends of that big iron frame -- which itself can only stand it by being so securely fastened to the wooden soundboard. (and all its heavy bracing) If you would attempt to 'undo' it without removing the strings, (thus relieving the tension) at some point the tension would win out and *something* would instantaneously fold itself in half, in what would no doubt be a quite dramatic (though likely deadly for you) half-a-second or so of "BANG"... [which would make the noise/action of the entire piano falling over on its back absolutely *pale* in comparison?!]
Addendum: with a moment's further thought, it might technically be possible to separate the harp from the soundboard -- IF and ONLY IF you first were to use a tuning key to relax ALL the tension on EACH AND EVERY one of the strings until they were all physically 'floppy loose', essentially just short of removing them entirely.
Even attempting to this (loosen all the strings) would likely be a very hazardous process. (if not done slowly, carefully, and likely in somewhat of a precise order??)
Doing so would certainly also irrecoverably destroy the piano. There would be no "reassembly" after such a process... :-( :-( :-(
Definitely agree with AnythingObscure! ^
Loosening the strings was what I was wondering about that is if I could do it safely
I'm using the piano ( or parts of ) to make other things it was in pieces when I got it
Thank you so much for your input !! Considering the danger factor, I found a piano tuner to that will remove it !!
You're welcome nannah -- and thanks for the further word. I have little doubt that having a willing piano tuner/technician help you will be a very wise decision!! :-)
The 2nd reason (which I didn't mention) *not* to try to unstring it on your own -- which your technician will likely attest to (if not demonstrate while doing the work?) and you would no doubt soon discover yourself (w/blood) -- piano wire is really stout stuff, and the tiny twisty little ends of each string are sharp *like needles*, in reality??!!
Kudos, BTW, for apparently desiring to save/reuse the soundboard parts of the piano. The soundboard itself is likely made of spruce, probably absolutely gorgeous wood. :-) :-) :-) [if you save the strings too, just be careful handling them?!]