Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Do you experiment with the "volume" and "architecture" of your piano?

I have owned a used Kawai upright for a year now. 49" high, room is eight foot ceiling with hardwood floors. I tend to experiment with the lid fully up (it's the half-fold version) or partially, or fully closed, to get the sound I am looking for. I've even opened the "bottom frame" slightly to let the air out (It once was not secured well and it banged my kneecaps!).

I used to have an older player piano, gutted of the mechanics. It had a large cavity and nice reverb as a result. I'd open the two front sliding doors where the rolls would be placed, to control volume, maybe hear more bass. Even played with the bottom frame there too.

This morning I completely removed the bottom frame and am enjoying the fuller bass sound I get.

Anyone else try these experiments or others?

I used to do things like this on the old 1930's Wurlitzer with cracked soundboard that was the only thing my parents could afford. It sounded best with the front panel completely removed.

I find my Charles Walter loud enough when fully closed that these adjustments never occurred to me. It's in a 19 x 15 room with carpet and upholstered furniture, and I find myself playing way under its full volume potential.

before we got our new piano we had an old 1920ish baby grand and i for a while i had the top totally off (it was already as dusty as they get) and i also would take the music stand off which would give even a fuller sound to me...now that weve got the new piano i wouldnt deam of leaving it open like that though...i hate dust

I find that taking the faceplate off would brighten the sound slightly, making for better Baroque playing. Also, when I played with the lid down, it was easier to voice low notes, while it was easier to voice the higher registers with the lid up.

Lol... this is like Piano-tunning. We could put some neon near the bass strings for some cool lookin'style.