Scott Ramseys Piano Works

Piano moving basics

 Moving a piano is a job that requires thought and strength. I see many really nice pianos damaged by do-it your-selfers, meaning well. Why is a piano difficult to move? How is a piano moved? etc. I'll discuss Grand Pianos here:

      

Grand or Baby Grand Pianos will weigh 500# and up. Sometimes the legs will be loose and wobbly compounding the task. They are heavy and akward at best, and can be quite valuable. As shown above, This grand has been blanketed and celo wrapped for transport. Next step, get it on the dolly and out the door

      

Piano moving is not a job for the weak of heart (or back).I remove the legs and tip it up on it's side. This way we can get it through a standard door frame.       

      

Once in the truck, the piano gets strapped to the side wall, and is ready to roll.

Cost of moving: Local Baby Grands start around $250, and will be higher depending on distance, and obstacles like stairs, steep or unpaved driveways and walkways. I can also arrange long distance moves, as I work with several carriers that specialize in cross-country Piano transportation. Call or email me for further information on your piano move. 520.404.4024 / 423.333.5538 I can give you an exact price and schedule. Thanks, Scott

      

Ramsey hits the Road part 2

This is the second part of 'Ramsey on the Road' First part starts in Winslow. Now I am heading to Piano tuning clients in Flagstaff. Here is a view of the San Francisco Peaks from I-40 West bound.

        

First order of business was breakfast at Denny's. I have to show you a pic of my waitress. She dreams of becoming a hairdresser!

        

She was really great, and I even asked permission to post her unique look!

      

Next stop, my old friend Puka. I restored her Knabe piano about 12 years ago, and have tuned it twice a year ever since. It has a great tone. Then Puka's sister showed up out of the blue: Micky. I had'nt seen her in years, so we had coffee and talked.... a lot.

          

Now on to my next client: Philip. He is a graphic artist and he had purchased his piano from me about 14 years ago. On the way to his home, I captured this little lake view:

        

Here is another view of 'Flag' looking at the mountain from town.

        

Thanks for viewing this portion. Next up: Installing the humidifier system on the Knabe grand.

Scott

Ramsey hits the road "Standin on the Corner"

Well it's that time of year again. Time to pack up the old Camry and go visit some clients, tune some pianos, Where? of all places: Winslow AZ. 3 Times a year I make the trek, in fact it's my 12th year tuning all the pianos in Winslow schools, along with so many clients who are now on my 'short list of friends.

        

My route takes me North through Globe, then a quick stop alongside Lake Roosevelt

      

That's enough beauty for now time to drive!

        

Then I hit a bit of snow country!

Arriving in Winslow, check out the sites!

        

Ya might be a Redneck If.....You have a Monster Stage Coach in your yard. Quick...somebody call Wells Fargo!

          

       How Bout a Monster 'Snow Cat'? Maybe AZ Snow Bowl Ski Area could use this one!

      

OK, so it was time to work. First stop, First Christian Church.

        

Inside is pretty cool, old school Church...

  

While I was working in the piano, I started jamming on the old hymn, 'What a Friend We Have In Jesus' The following Video is the result.

Next I went over to Connie & Gary's house. They have 2 pianos, a Busch & Gerts 1901, and a Ludwig 1926. I couldn't help but play the both. First the Busch & Gerts,

 'If I Could Change The World'      

Then I switched over to the Ludwig. Connie asked about restoring the finish. We talked about using Minwax 'Wood Sheen' as a way to hide scratches and apply a permanent shine. Then I had to play it. Notice the brilliant tone. This is one of my smooth jazz songs 'Inn Limbo'

Here's Connie & Gary with the Ludwig (note the original bench!)

 

It was a great day. Look for part two of the Northern AZ trip: Flagstaff.  More Pianos, clients, music, snow, and who knows what else!

See ya next time!...Scott 

Gabrielle Plays!

Scott's new Client, Gabrielle, just got her new piano!. This is what this whole blog is about!...enjoying the piano. All the blah blah about how a piano is tuned moved cleaned, etc. etc is great. But the bottom line is we want a beautiful piano that plays great! All the details and work and expense is all aimed toward the single goal of a beautiful instrument.

Having said this, Listen to sweet Gabrielle playing her new Grand Piano! Her parents hired me to deliver and tune the piano for her, and I motivated her into playing a song for you!

Thanks for watching, See ya next time!

Scott

Piano Tuning Basics #1 by Scott Ramsey

This is the first video that I am posting, so remember to cut me some slack. It has taken a bit of effort taxing my brain at the computer to make this all come together.

      

So here goes: This video is the first in a series. On this piano, I am pitch raising it. In other words, the piano had not been tuned in many years, and the strings had lost a lot of tension. The first step in tuning is to get the piano up to pitch. Pitch raising is a rough first tuning to get the notes up in to the correct register. many neglected pianos will be a half step flat- in other words, when you play a 'C' note, the tone it makes is a 'B' Check out this video:

More video demos to come as I hone my Bloging skills. Thanks for watching! See ya next Time.

Scott

520-744-7234 / 423-333-5538

Piano Tuning Basics #3

OK, so my last post was a success!! I got a youtube video to play in my blog! Here is part deaux. It has morE of the same: Me pitch-raising a WAY out of tune  Baby Grand.

I talk about how the piano notes sound in relation to one another. When a piano is this flat it sounds awful!  CHECK THIS OUT... 

This will give you an idea of what I will do when I tune your piano, so give me a call and let's make yours sound 'MoBetta.

520-744-7234 / 423-333-5538

        

See ya next post!

Scott

What's New in Ramsey Land

Wow, what a day. Spent the whole day with my new friends Vanessa Valencia and significant other Mr. Lovvie. First off- check out Vanessa @ http://afancifultwist.typepad.com Vanessa is the one to awaken me to the blog-o-sphere. All day, Vanessa toiled away pushing buttons on her computer, creating this new look for my new blog, Scott Ramseys Piano Works. Here is the idea behind my blog: Combine all my experience and talents in the music field in one central point on the web. I am a piano player/ keyboard Artist. Composer/ producer. Music Retailer. Piano tech. Music teacher. Choir Director. you get the idea

      

The point of this blog is to make info and how to videos about pianos available to you, along with my music tracks, Pianos and accessories for sale, advice on all things piano. Like answering the question: 'How should I clean my Baby Grand piano?

         

As I develope this blog, please be sure to check back, or subscribe to the new postings, to track my progress. I have high hopes and vision of what this blog may become. I am depending on you to help me keep on track.

Big Big thanks to Vanessa Valencia for all the immense help and expertise she has extended my way. We spent the whole day together. We made a deal: she wanted some repair work performed on her Sohmer Baby Grand Piano, and I wanted a jump-start on my blog. Her piano had big gashes where the lid meets the cabinet (down low by the hinges) The gashes had been kind of half baked filled in by someone in the past. They were big blobs of yellow resin and really ugly. Also, there were two ivory keys that had been replaced with brand new glaring white plastic keys. Kind of looked like Austin Powers teeth. So I worked a little magic, I have a whole box of old keytops I have salvaged over the last umpteen years. Lots of ivories, older plastic, newer plastic, etc. What's the big deal you say? piano keys are white!. Well remember this next time you want to pick out white paint at the store for your kitchen. Key tops range in color from pure whites to yellow to grays. One at a time, they all look white, but side by side is a caliedescope.

               

This is a quick glimpse of Vanessa, which I know she will be pissed for my posting, but I wanted you to have a least a face with the person to connect.!

So there I am working away at the old Sohmer. Vanessa over in the far corner pushing buttons like a machine, and all along, Vanessa's Significant other AKA pet named "Mr. Lovie" is milling around going about his day. Later, he and I did a lil' jammin' me on piano, he on bass. Pretty cool. First song? Why Get Up' by The Fabulous Thunderbirds. We had a great time.

      

I will sign off for now.

Thanks Vanessa.

Thanks Mr. L..

Thank you for reading.

See ya next time

Scott

Scott Ramsey...Wazzup?

First I was a piano player, taking lessons and playing constantly. That led to lot's of night club work in Florida, back n' the day. (Late 80's) I did a lot of studio work, recording and producing  my own discs. Then for some reason, never moved forward with the marketing of the recordings. I moved on as t his hands)music director for local Broadway Musicals, Choir director for various churches. I was a piano teacher for a couple years in Flagstaff AZ. Finally I became a piano tech out of love of the instrument. I had a small shop in my mountain home in Flagstaff, and made a great living in the 90's.. During that time, I was a member of the 'Monday Night Blues Band' playing at Charlies in the Hotel Weatherford. Hank Tomlin was the leader- awesome 3/4 blind guitar virtuoso, Bob Blasi, Retro vintage drummer time warped here from 1945, one of the best blues drummers & singers I've worked with.  Roger Smith Bass player/ middle school science teacher held down the bottom.