Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum retrofitting a piano

I am just getting started with the research so pardon me if you have dealt with this topic before. I have an antique Chickering square grand piano-- beautiful cabinet-worthless musical instrument. Is it possible to put a digital player keyboard into this old piano and if so what is a good link to start me on this journey.
Donna

Hi Donna, and welcome!

Sure, this can be done. A lot of people would feel that's the best thing to do with a square grand...

With the removal of a couple of case parts, the key slip, and the panel above the keys, the action will slide right out, just as it does in a modern grand. All you'd need to do is find a digital that will fit into the resulting cavity, put the case pieces back on for looks, and you're pretty much set. You may want to do a couple of ancillary things like drill a hole through the key bed for the cord, but, I feel it's a pretty straightforward process.

Thanks Jim,
Do you have any recommendations on digital players that I should start looking at?

Sorry, Donna, the only digital that I have any knowledge about is the Roland V Piano, and that's probably not what you'd want - way too expensive.

You might try Rich Galassini; he has a pretty broad knowledge of what's out there.

Donna,

The biggest consideration is what will "fit," as in the most compatible size of the actual keyboard. And I actually mean the number of keys, width, etc. You might be limited by what is available, rather than what you would prefer.

Thanks, I'll give him a try.
Donna

Find a digital keyboard you like and alter the case to accommodate it.