How to Remove a Key Cover From Baby Grand Piano

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Pencil Stuck in Steinway (Read 12989 times)

My mom accidentally dropped a pencil in the crack that opens up when you partially open the key guard thing (sorry I'm not much into pianos) and now when you try to fully open the key quard protector thing the high-ish E and F keys get pressed. We have a Steinway Model 426000 grand. How can I go about removing the pencil? I attached a photo it isn't my piano but one I found online but it says what I am semi-coherently ranting about.

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Key guard thing = fallboard

426000 is most likely the serial number.  Steinway grand models usually go by a single letter: S, M, L, O, A, B, C, D.

EDIT: See Richard's post below for special Steinway instructions.

Simply remove the fallboard.  Try to maneuver it into a semi open/closed position.  In a certain position it will be easiest to just pull out.  Careful not to scratch the case with the hinges while removing the fallboard.  Fish out the pencil careful not to get anything caught in the action parts.  There may even be a 426000 stamped on a hidden part of the fallboard if you look at it closely.  Replace the fallboard.

This procedure above works with most grands.  Some detective work may be needed to find out the best way to remove the fallboard on a particular piano, and place it back.  It is such a common occurrence to drop pencils in there.  If you own a grand, its good to become familiar with removing the fallboard.

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Removing a Steinway fallboard is different from most other makes. You need to remove the endblocks, the pieces of wood just beyond each end of the keyboard, which are retained by a screw from underneath. On some models the screw has a wingnut, on others you need a large flat-bladed screwdriver. Once the screw is out, the fallboard and endblocks come out together. First time, have an assistant handy to help you get things out and back in without frustration and/or scratching the case. It's actually not at all a complicated job but like most things it seems a bit daunting until you're used to it. While you're in there you might look around for dust, bits of paper and other detritus that you can usefully remove!

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Instrumentalists are all wannabe singers. Discuss.

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Once the fallboard is off, you can also easily take out the whole keyboard and action as one unit. You need space, somewhere clean and flat to place that. Make sure no keys get pressed if you slide that out. You only need to do that if something has been dropped off the music rest between the strings.

I only mention this, as I think it is safer to remove the action, rather than poke over around the hammers should you see long lost treasures that may have fallen between the strings.

I enjoy doing this sort of thing myself. But if the piano is due for a tune and you are unsure, you could call a technician, as it is a 15 minute job including the hoovering.

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What Richard said. Remove the 2 large screws directly under the cheeks or blocks. If you've never done this, use one person on each end of the fallboard and lift it straight up and away.

That's a lovely piano. If you're worried about scratching the finish, have a tech do it for you. It's a minor job. Since you called him/her out, get a tuning. More cost effective that way than a special trip just for that.

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Hey everyone thanks a lot! We got the pencil out and cleared away any detritus (thanks for the word) and it is working awesomely And I looked our piano is an L model someone had said that the models are designated by letters.

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Thought it was an L.

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How to Remove a Key Cover From Baby Grand Piano

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