We have to drive to Minnesota and pick up my wifes spinet piano. It will fit in our 1/2 ton van ok. But I would like to lay it on it's back. Will transporting it this way damage it ?

-- scott (sbitzer@columbus.rr.com), April 14, 2002

Answers

I can't think of any moving parts that would get hurt accept the lid that closes over the keys. The hammers that strike the strings when the keys are pressed have leather straps called bridle straps that should keep them in place. Geez, it's no fun moving a piano, I'm leaving mine if I ever move! Take care with the finish, use lots of blankets or your wife will never forgive you! Just kidding!

-- cowgirlone in ok (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002.

I know that there is a sound board somewhere inside that cant be cracked or broken. also always place your piano on an inside wall in your house. just things ive heard could all be wives tales. good luck I would love to have a piano i wouldnt be here at the computer now.

-- ronda (thejohnsons@locacaccless.com), April 14, 2002.

I had had my piano since I was 7 years old. Longer than I care to admit! -G- I decided to give it to my son, a musician. I moved the piano from Arizona to California in my horse trailer. It stood upright in its natural position, well padded, well tied. Got there in perfect condition.

Personally, I'd be concerned about the piano in the position you describe.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

If by a spinet piano you mean an upright piano, then I wouldn't bang it around for hundreds of miles in any other orientation than the one that it's designed to stand in - that is, upright. Pad it well (underneath as well), tie it well, and drive carefully. Pianos, particularly upright pianos, usually have a big heavy steel frame containing the wires. If that were to bang up and down at ninety degrees to the direction the piano was designed to have it stand, I would expect as a matter of course to have the piano damaged, possibly beyone repair. Yes, I realise what that's going to do to the balance of your van. Live with it, and drive slower, or hire a professional.

If it's anything but an upright piano, hire a professional anyway.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), April 15, 2002.

Scott, we moved my mother's piano from Alaska to nevada, to Mississippi, to Texas, to Colorado and back to Texas, with several short moves in between. It is a console, somewhat larger than a spinet. Never, never lay a piano on it's back. They are *very* expensive to repair. We kept hers in it's natural position, padded well and secured so it wouldn't bang around. If it won't fit upright in the van, you might look into renting a uhaul trailer for it. It would be cheaper than repairs. Good luck!

-- kim in CO (kimk61252@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

First get your husband really mad...hehe he moved one for me, but it took another buddy to help and a lot of yelling..hehe

-- julie (jbritt@ceva.net), April 15, 2002.

My dad was a piano tuner and also rebuilt/refinished them. We typically had 3 pianos in our house at any given moment. You need to keep it upright. Also, try to get some piano dollies, makes it easier (notice the -ier, it's still definitely not EASY). Strong young men and a sense of humor are also needed. To this day, I have to leave the room when someone is moving a piano, too many scars from watching it as a child. :-) And that was watching a professional! The advice about good padding/strapping is excellent. Good luck! Amy

-- Amy (kimico@aol.com), April 15, 2002.

uh, I'm busy that weekend. sorry.

-- B. Lackie - Zone3 (cwrench@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

I'll volunteer to help you move it Scott. You'll just have to come to Kansas to pick me up though. lol.

I agree with the others that placing the piano on it's back for the move is not good. Pianos have been known to explode or fly apart if the strings are over tightened while tuning. That is the reason why most pianos are tuned slightly flat.

I've helped move quite a few pianos in my day, mostly uprights. It is an easy chore to make a piano lighter prior to the move. Usually only two screws hold the keyboard cover on. Once removed it lightens the piano. Also the board covering the hammers can be removed, usually they are just on hook type pivots. Open the upper lid and the board lifts off. Also the upper lid usually comes off easily.

Next, once the keyboard cover is removed the keys are readily exposed. If you will look, they will almost always be numbered. You can them lift them from their position to again lighten the piano.

The hammer mechanism can also be readily removed. Usually two turned knobs hold it in place and the unit can be removed in one piece.

Don't forget to remove the cover over the lower front part of the piano. There is usually a spring clip that can be pushed up, then the top of the board tilts forward and lifts off of a couple of aligning pins.

Well there you have it--half of a piano to lift during moving, albeit the heavy half. Saves many a back though. Two guys can easily move a full sized upright if it is first lightened.

Oh yeah, the piano is easy to reassemble if you observe as you disassemble.

Good luck. What time should I be ready for the trip?

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), April 15, 2002.

back the wagon up real close to the door, rig the tri-pod for the hoist and harness the draft animal of your choice, lift and swing it into the back of the wagon [this way take longer than expected depending on how well the animal will back up] after you get it in, tie it down real good, with rugs and blankets to pad it, and then keep to the high side of the road, being sure to avoid the ruts.

But really, I think it may hurt it to lay on it's back, maybe you should call a music store and ask?

-- Thumper/inOKC (slrldr@yahoo.com), April 15, 2002.

Thank You all for your help ! Sure I'll swing by Kansas and pick ya up. Then will slide down under and grab Don... I think this job needs a good supervisor :) (thanks Don !).. also saw a boar that needs a good home from central MN .. Do ya think he'd eat the piano on the way home ? I'll be stowing it upright for the trip back to ohio. We are also bringing back the wifes Honda on my car trailer. We are going out empty if any one has something going west let me know.

-- scott (sbitzer@columbus.rr.com), April 15, 2002.

Yeah, that's about all I'd be any use for - the condition my back's in. Best wishes.

Say - just a thought - I don't suppose they're both Yamahas? The piano and the bike, that is?

-- Don Armstrong (from Australia) (darmst@yahoo.com.au), April 16, 2002.

Shows you ought to keep to-ing and fro-ing - backing and forwarding - from the thread to the response, doesn't it? Not a huge amount of chance a Honda is a Yamaha.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), April 16, 2002.

Hey Don.... It is a "Grand" piano ..The name was quite the source of giggles in her youth as they could tell people they had a GRAND piano..And the Honda is a cute little station wagon with four wheel drive. I do have an old Yamaha 250 2-stroke in the garage I'd be happy to mail you (but you'll have to pick up the postage !)

scott

-- scott (sbitzer@columbus.rr.com), April 16, 2002.

Piano Moving Rule 1: Knees together, straight back, and abstain from drinking prune juice 24 hours beforehand.

-- Griff (griff@hangnail.com), April 20, 2002.

Call around and see if you can rent a Piano dolly. Shouldnt cost much and makes moving a lot easier.

-- Jim in Fl (Lgk2105@aol.com), April 21, 2002.