All Questions
Tagged with instrument-maintenance or maintenance
378 questions
0
votes
1
answer
64
views
Should I use wax or polish cleaners on a high-gloss white piano to protect its finish?
Does a polished white piano need regular maintenance (such as those wax or polish cleaning products that exist in the market) to keep its wood and color in good condition? I've heard that waxing can ...
- 409
4
votes
2
answers
540
views
How do I keep my tremolo strat in tune?
I know there are a lot of advanced tremolo set-up rigs. I'm just wondering, if there are some basic techniques while playing and such.
- 41
1
vote
2
answers
125
views
Guitar maintenance - Specific questions on applying lemon oil
I have gone thru a similar question here - how does one use or apply lemon oil to a classical guitar?
However I feel it does not specifically address following situations or queries that I have.
Some ...
- 41
8
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is it possible/recommended to paint the side of piano's keys?
I see that many pianos' keys are kept unpainted. Is there a reason for that? Can it cause any issues to paint the side of piano's keys? (the natural wood that can be seen on the attached picture)
- 409
1
vote
0
answers
82
views
Kick drum not working in electronic drum kit
I have set up my Yamaha dtx 502 kit after long term storage and can't get the kick drum to work. I've tried its cable in other drums and other drums cables in the kick drum but only get silence (when ...
- 111
0
votes
1
answer
72
views
Is it a good idea to change one string at a time - Guitar [duplicate]
While reading Guitar maintenance manual of Ibanez electric guitars, I noticed that it recommends changing one string at a time during restringing guitar.
https://www.ibanez.com/world/support/manual/
...
- 205
0
votes
1
answer
106
views
Sliding whistle making weird noise
I recently bought a sliding whistle. Can't lie, it wasn't the most expensive, but it definitely was a not suspicious price. I tried using it, but the sound was very off. The best I can describe it is ...
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
157
views
What should I look for in the written estimate provided by the technician for musical instrument servicing?
If the technician for musical instrument servicing provides with an estimate or explanation of the work that will be done, a written estimate will help understand what work is being done and how much ...
- 53
2
votes
2
answers
145
views
Keeping a flute looking good
Keeping the inside of a flute is easy, but the outside? I've read the answers here about rubbing down with a cloth to clean the residue left from handling, but, having not played mine for several ...
- 197k
4
votes
1
answer
118
views
Is it possible to "add" a rotary fifth valve to a 4-valved tuba?
I am currently playing Wessex TB 692 Grand, which is 4-valved BBb tuba.
I have always cherished a 5-valved BBb, so I wonder if it is possible to add a rotary 5th valve to my Wessex horn..
Is this ...
- 215
9
votes
3
answers
337
views
Will a soak in mouthwash hurt mouthpieces?
I’m teaching wind instruments to grade 7 and 8’s after a decade of teaching primary music. Since covid, my school board mandates a specific cleaning solution must be used for sanitation. Brass and ...
- 91
5
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Order of valves in a trumpet
I'm re-furbishing an old French three valve trumpet. The valves have been mixed up. There are no numbers on them, unlike modern trumpet valves. Is there a simple way to ascertain which valve goes into ...
- 197k
4
votes
1
answer
99
views
Silk classical guitar string gauge is too big for bridge holes
My classical guitar has a plastic bridge with pre-drilled or precast holes gauged for standard nylon classical strings.
I got some silk strings which are a bit higher gauge and don’t all fit by just ...
- 41
1
vote
0
answers
23
views
Wooden recorder services in Sydney [closed]
I need someone to replace the cork on my wooden descant recorder and can't find anyone to do it in metropolitan Sydney. Does anybody have a recommendation? I am not desperate enough to post it off ...
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
848
views
Grand piano positioning to compromise between acoustic and good piano care
After owning a digital then an upright piano, I am now considering the possibility of acquiring a baby grand piano (166 cm / 5'5" according to the manufacturer's website). But since a grand is, ...
- 593
4
votes
1
answer
713
views
Electric guitar ground wire
I recently bought an old electric guitar (an SG copy) on eBay, as a little restoration project. I have some basic experience with electronics from university, but that was 15 years ago and I've never ...
- 141
5
votes
2
answers
314
views
How often should I change tom heads (batters and resonants)?
I have had my current tom heads on since February.
I only play on my kit for an average of once a week, and not long when I do.
Should I replace them all, batter and resonant heads? I feel like I ...
- 1,510
0
votes
3
answers
674
views
Safe to remove ball from end of ball end string?
I (sort of) recently got a new violin and as the tailpiece does not match my earlier rental I now have a mismatched ball end E string from my extra set. Looking at the string it definitely seems like ...
- 161
3
votes
1
answer
143
views
Using friction pegs with standard classical guitar headstock
Would it be reasonable to use guitar friction pegs with a regular classical headstock? I've never seen that, all friction peg versions of flamenco guitars have a different headstock design.
- 31
1
vote
3
answers
220
views
Intonation problem with guitar
I have a Fender Model CD-60 NAT, which is having some intonation problems. I fully intend to take it to a professional, but would like to understand the problem and the most likely fix beforehand.
...
3
votes
1
answer
509
views
French horn - clicky/noisy keys
More of a practical question here.
I've had clicky keys (on the French horn) for a while now and I plan to get them fixed soon. But does anyone know a temporary fix to the problem? I can't seem to ...
- 103
0
votes
2
answers
143
views
Is there a way to prevent a wooden guitar from picking up ambient smells?
I played a show last night with my acoustic guitar in an environment that was thick with the smell of fried food, and as a result this morning my guitar smelled like fryer oil. This certainly isn't a ...
- 1,142
4
votes
3
answers
588
views
I dropped my violin! Is it OK? What should I do? [closed]
Okay, the unthinkable has happened. I dropped my violin (or viola or cello), or something fell on it, or someone knocked it over. What should I check? Can I correct any problems myself? Should I take ...
- 19.2k
4
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How to replace string on Donner standard series
My son just got his first guitar. I know NOTHING about guitars. One of the strings broke and we can’t figure out how to replace it. The videos I’ve found on YouTube make it look easy and spend about 5 ...
1
vote
1
answer
189
views
Preserving the pitch of Tabla by keeping it in a dry cabinet
I have purchased a dry cabinet to store my camera lenses. I also found out in its manual that you can use it to store instruments and scientific materials as well.
I wanted to know if using a dry ...
- 145
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How to clean the bathtub after cleaning brass instruments
Every few months I clean my French horn in an enamel bathtub filled with warm water and added dishwasher liquid. The oil and grease residues that attach to the detergent float to the water surface and ...
- 221
3
votes
2
answers
251
views
Would it be frowned upon to change the color of a 170 year old square grand Knabe piano?
I recently acquired a square grand Knabe Piano from the 1850’s. It was restored about 30 years ago and now has some chips in the finish and I don’t really care for the color or fact that it has brush ...
- 39
2
votes
3
answers
655
views
How can I improve the sound of my trumpet?
I have two student trumpets at home. The first trumpet I bought over 20 years ago for $80 USD and it's been in my mother's attic since then mostly. The second trumpet is a student rental from a local ...
- 163
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is it Ok to leave a guitar with a broken string?
Just broke the high E on my guitar and won't be able to get new strings for about 2 weeks. will leaving it as it is damage the guitar at all?
the guitar is an Ibanez rga42fm with a fixed bridge
All ...
- 41
4
votes
1
answer
344
views
Upright piano's keys feel heavier than they did when tested in the showroom
I bought a refurbished upright piano (Yamaha U1D). The keys feel a bit stiff, and sometimes if I hit a key softly it doesn't make any sound at all. It didn't have this problem when I tested it in ...
- 141
2
votes
1
answer
133
views
Drawing on Classical Guitar with Open Pore Finish
this might be a somewhat naive question, but I am curious if using some type of permanent marker to draw on a classical guitar with an open pore finish will cause any issues? I'd like to give it a go, ...
- 21
4
votes
2
answers
725
views
Recently bought upright piano has at least one key ever so slightly deeper than the others. Is it detrimental to learning?
So, I bought my very first upright piano nearly 3 months ago after the numerous helpful replies I received to my questions here.
I've been playing it a bit now and then. Sometimes, while I was slowly ...
- 593
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Violin fingerboard issue
I know something is wrong with my fingerboard and I'm attaching a photo here. The fingerboard is too low with no projection at all.
I don't know if this is the right place to ask. I had given my ...
- 295
4
votes
1
answer
215
views
Is it safe to use a mouldy case for an electric guitar?
My guitar hard case (Stagg Vintage-style series gold tweed deluxe hardshell case for electric guitar) has changed color to green and dark red on the some parts of the outside, and it seems that the ...
- 65
3
votes
1
answer
318
views
Acoustic Guitar: Remove gloss coating from an inexpensive acoustic
I have just bought an inexpensive acoustic guitar. The guitar has a gloss coat on over the wood like most higher end ones, and I'm not the biggest fan of the shine. If this was a higher end guitar I'd ...
- 165
1
vote
1
answer
252
views
Are these type of "Horizonal" wall mounts safe for hanging a guitar with a gigbag
I did read this thread Storing guitar in a gig bag and hanging from a wall hook. It concluded with a "don't hang with a gigbag, it becomes a big barrier between playing the guitar often and ...
2
votes
1
answer
695
views
Normal fret wear or particularly low-quality fret wire?
I've been playing a cheap guitar for maybe an hour every day for the past two years. At first I was very happy with the way it played, the frets were perfectly level and I was able to set it up ...
- 85
4
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How do you stop gunk from building up on guitar strings?
On a steel-string acoustic guitar, how do you prevent gunk from building up on the strings? Every time I play, the strings, particularly the B and E strings, will literally (okay maybe not literally) ...
- 262
4
votes
1
answer
135
views
I have a Skywin oud, 11 strings. Do the pegs need to be in a certain order, like in length?
So I'm not sure if my oud came strung correctly,they look a bit worn but it came with 6 pairs of replacement strings and one 11th string.
What if while restringing, I took all the pegs out without ...
- 41
1
vote
2
answers
129
views
Fixing loose strap button screw in solid-body guitar [duplicate]
I have a strap button screw in my Squier Affinity Strat that I have to re-fasten every week or so, and I'd like to carry out a more permanent repair. There is no visible damage to the screw hole or ...
- 13
4
votes
1
answer
169
views
What are the different maintenances a piano should receive during its lifetime?
For the past three months, I have been doing extensive search prior to buying my acoustic piano about how to keep the piano in good shape.
Most of the information I found online was about the things I ...
- 593
1
vote
0
answers
32
views
How do I stop hearing a radio station through my Marshall MG15DFX? [duplicate]
I just purchased a used but in good condition Marshall MG15DFX combo amp for practice in my room. Almost immediately I started hearing a local radio station through the amp even when there is no ...
- 11
3
votes
1
answer
127
views
Tool that can turn this kind of particular screw in upright piano?
I tried to search in piano anatomy and glossaries but couldn't find any result. I also tried google search with image and it incorrectly identified my picture as "webbing". Can anyone help ...
- 247
1
vote
2
answers
444
views
Will about 10 loose hairs in a violin bow make any difference when I use it?
It's something like the image above, just less loose hairss. While I was looking at it, I tried playing the violin, and some hairs got loose.
Do I just cut them off or yank them off? This little book ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
Lower strings buzz after switching from 0.010" to 0.009" gauge, should I raise the saddles to fix it?
I replaced the strings on my low end Stagg electric guitar. I changed from 0.010" to 0.009" to make it a little more comfortable to play. After replacing the strings I notice the A and low E ...
- 849
4
votes
3
answers
694
views
What are the direct consequences of exposing an acoustic piano to environment hazard?
From what I gathered, the following should be done to keep the piano in good condition:
No direct exposure to sun light, moon light, heat source nor air conditioner.
An average temperature of 20°C, ...
- 593
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What are the dangers of extreme temperature for an acoustic piano?
I am planning to buy an upright acoustic piano in the future. But before I do, there are some points I need to clarify.
I initially did not want to buy an acoustic piano, because I was afraid of all ...
- 593
16
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Guitar strings feel electrified
When my electric guitar is connected to the amp it's fine but when I connect it to my mult fx Zoom g1on and then to the amp, the strings and the bridge feel electrified. Like there's friction when I ...
2
votes
1
answer
6k
views
How long--does it take for humidity to affect acoustic guitar?
We know that high or low levels of humidity affect acoustic guitar, but how long does it actually take before a guitar starts to get affected by humidity? Furthermore, what do you think are the ...
- 481
4
votes
1
answer
871
views
How does temperature affect acoustic guitar?
We understand that an acoustic guitar must be kept in around 40%-60% humidity levels. As lower humidity levels cause the guitar wood to dry out and shrink, which can lead to cracks in the guitar. Also,...
- 481