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Product Description
Product Description
Aimed at everyone with an interest in pianos, amateurs and professionals alike, this is a thorough but highly readable technical guide to the world's most influential musical instrument. Most people, even competent pianists, have no idea how a piano works, yet understanding a piano's truly remarkable technology can greatly increase the pleasure of owning and playing one. Even though the most humble upright has thousands of working parts, this innovative manual explains how straightforward it can be to maintain and improve a piano's performance.
From the Author
This manual is based on John Bishop's 35-year experience of tuning, repairing and buying and selling pianos. We wrote it mainly to help pianists (a) improve their knowledge of piano technology and (b) buy wisely, because outside the safe havens of reputable dealers, bad pianos greatly outnumber good.
We also wanted to give some instruction on how to maintain, repair and tune a piano for those keen and able enough to try - ideally, on an instrument of low value. For those who prefer to let professionals take the strain, these sections at least provide an insight into the skilled work of piano tuners and technicians.
Most reader feedback tells us that the manual is valued as a highly readable and useful addition to the literature on the piano.
We're therefore puzzled by the vehemence of the some very negative reviews posted here by piano technicians. Most are non-specific, so it's difficult to respond to them, though we've done our best via the Comment facility next to each review.
There may be some undetected minor errors, and we acknowledge a big error on page 37, where there is some incorrecct labeling of parts. Overall though, we stand firmly by the integrity and accuracy of everything we've written.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book to find out a lot more about pianos - I am not a professional piano technician, just a piano-lover; and it amply fulfilled my hopes. Full of useful information, clearly explained for the non-expert - it is splendid!
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Not sure that it equips me to tune a piano but very interesting if you want to know more about what goes on inside. I had two problems with my grand piano which my piano tuner fixed easily which were not covered by the book. One was squeeky keys - just fold the hammers back and lightly rub the leathers with your finger. The other was a sticky key which was caused by a stiff hinge pin.
Overall well worth buying, it's like the car manuals - even if you don't fix your own car it's nice to understand what the technicians are talking about and gives you more confidence that you are not being ripped off.
Overall well worth buying, it's like the car manuals - even if you don't fix your own car it's nice to understand what the technicians are talking about and gives you more confidence that you are not being ripped off.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book represents a very interesting and satisfactory approach to producing a technical book about the piano.
The market for piano technical books has always tended to be rather a small, "niche" market. This creates challenges for publishing. Publishers are in business, of course, to make a profit, and this can only be achieved for a given title by selling a lot of copies. But a book will only sell a lot of copies if it has popular appeal for a large potential market.
Piano repair books have not been in that category. Since they have not been produced in large anough numbers to make for 'economy of scale' it has not hitherto been possible for piano books to be lavishly illustrated in colour. Arthur Reblitz's excellent technical text, for example, superb for students of piano technology, is black and white throughout. Black and white photos are OK, but it can be hard to see parts very clearly when everything is in shades of grey, whereas red and green felt parts on light wood stand out clearly in colour photos.
The great thing here, is that Haynes Manuals are aimed at a broader market. By constructing a book that will be useful for all piano owners, as well as those with a distinct and deeper technical interest, it has been possible to produce a work that is in full colour throughout. This is a tremendous boon!
Many of us are familiar with the Haynes Manuals, and may have bought them for cars we have owned. They are very thorough. For most, there is more information than would be needed. I was never going to pull an engine out and strip down the gearbox! But even finding out how to remove a piece of trim as as to access some component, would often justify the cost of the manual.
In recent years, the Haynes company has branched out into other technical manuals, covering household appliances such as washing machines. And now, the Piano Manual!
John Bishop is a practising piano technician of some 30 years experience and has a background as a University Lecturer (in an unrelated field). He and his writing colleague Graham Barker have produced a work that is copiously illustrated with photos, and is accessibly and humourously written.
There are different methods for carrying out many piano tasks, and not everyone will do things in exactly the same ways as described in this book.. But that's fine! This is a genuinely useful Manual which I think should be in the hands of anyone who is at all interested in the workings of his or her piano. It would be especially good for piano students.
Just as with the Haynes car Manuals, many tasks are described that most readers won't be intending to tackle, but the book is very much worth having for general background information. And it may embolden the reader to carry out some simple piano task, like fixing a loose grand piano pedal trapwork, successfully.
There is an unfortunate error in the labeling of some parts in a photo of the upright piano action, due to a proofreading oversight, and this will presumably be corrected in future print runs. A corrected version is available in the Blog about the manual.
As a piano tuner and technician of some 27 years, I am very happy to have this book as an addition to my piano library.
The market for piano technical books has always tended to be rather a small, "niche" market. This creates challenges for publishing. Publishers are in business, of course, to make a profit, and this can only be achieved for a given title by selling a lot of copies. But a book will only sell a lot of copies if it has popular appeal for a large potential market.
Piano repair books have not been in that category. Since they have not been produced in large anough numbers to make for 'economy of scale' it has not hitherto been possible for piano books to be lavishly illustrated in colour. Arthur Reblitz's excellent technical text, for example, superb for students of piano technology, is black and white throughout. Black and white photos are OK, but it can be hard to see parts very clearly when everything is in shades of grey, whereas red and green felt parts on light wood stand out clearly in colour photos.
The great thing here, is that Haynes Manuals are aimed at a broader market. By constructing a book that will be useful for all piano owners, as well as those with a distinct and deeper technical interest, it has been possible to produce a work that is in full colour throughout. This is a tremendous boon!
Many of us are familiar with the Haynes Manuals, and may have bought them for cars we have owned. They are very thorough. For most, there is more information than would be needed. I was never going to pull an engine out and strip down the gearbox! But even finding out how to remove a piece of trim as as to access some component, would often justify the cost of the manual.
In recent years, the Haynes company has branched out into other technical manuals, covering household appliances such as washing machines. And now, the Piano Manual!
John Bishop is a practising piano technician of some 30 years experience and has a background as a University Lecturer (in an unrelated field). He and his writing colleague Graham Barker have produced a work that is copiously illustrated with photos, and is accessibly and humourously written.
There are different methods for carrying out many piano tasks, and not everyone will do things in exactly the same ways as described in this book.. But that's fine! This is a genuinely useful Manual which I think should be in the hands of anyone who is at all interested in the workings of his or her piano. It would be especially good for piano students.
Just as with the Haynes car Manuals, many tasks are described that most readers won't be intending to tackle, but the book is very much worth having for general background information. And it may embolden the reader to carry out some simple piano task, like fixing a loose grand piano pedal trapwork, successfully.
There is an unfortunate error in the labeling of some parts in a photo of the upright piano action, due to a proofreading oversight, and this will presumably be corrected in future print runs. A corrected version is available in the Blog about the manual.
As a piano tuner and technician of some 27 years, I am very happy to have this book as an addition to my piano library.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
please buy, and then call a technician
It takes many years of training, and then many years of experience to work on pianos. This book is fine for someone with a good understanding of mechanical workings who just wants... Read more
Published 3 months ago by John J. Thompson
Excellent and engaging book.
I have recently purchased and read this book thoroughly. I am very impressed with the obvious thought that has gone into making it both interesting and understandable to an... Read more
Published 14 months ago by HNB
A valuable book for the non-expert
I am not a pianist nor a piano restorer. Instead I am the owner of an early 19th century square piano. Read more
Published 16 months ago by TRP
Excellent book
Firstly i am not a professional piano tuner nor a restorer. I bought this book in Halfords (for the full cover price I might add) because I am learning to play the 1969 Knight... Read more
Published 19 months ago by P. Bingham
Over protective
There will always be a void between the professional and the amateur and this book make no claims that it will turn you into a piano tuner. Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2010 by D-fore
Excellent, simply a required manual. [some 'unusual' reviews]
To begin with I'd say click 'Comments' next to those negative reviews - it's well worth reading the replies from one of the authors! Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2010 by J. Catling
Excellent book, very helpful
We bought this book out of curiosity because a grandchild is starting piano lessons and the need for a piano is looming. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2010 by Mrs. L. J. Elliott
Misleading & flawed
It is important for any 'workshop manual' to be accurate, professionally accredited, comprehensive, trustworthy and reliable. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2010 by Paul Fellows
Don't take the contents literally they are scattered with...
As an experienced restorer and tuner of pianos for many years this manual is not up to expectation, especially in the repair sections with many inappropriate methods described and... Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2010 by Andrew Giller
disappointly if not dangerous
As a trained piano tuner/technician with 30 years experience, I feel qualified to review this book. It is intended to show the untrained amateur how to maintain, restore and even... Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2010 by D. Wright
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