Home

Piano Service

About APT

Piano FAQ's

Contact Us

Service Defined

Piano Lovers?

Site Map

Pianos For Sale

Testimonials

 Grand Piano  

Upright/Studio
Piano

Console Piano

 Spinet Piano

Grand Pianos
vs.
Vertical Pianos
(the differences)

Is there any other piano repair
beside
piano tuning you would recommend
for my instrument?

How frequently do I need to actually schedule piano tunings ?

Should I purchase
a new piano or rebuild the vintage/antique
piano I currently
have ?

Acoustic Pianos
vs.
Electronic Keyboards

For the beginner, which do I recommend ?

visits since 10/23/2003

A Family's History in Piano Tuning and Repair

 A Family owned and operated business since 1959...

Commercial Clients/Affiliations Past and Present...

Our Specialty Services...

A Family Owned and Operated Business Since...

Nelson and Melissa (daughter) pictured here

We are proud to advertise that the Edwards family (previous owners of The Musical Museum in Underground Atlanta) are three generations of  Piano Tuner/Technicians. They have served Atlanta, Metro Atlanta, and North Georgia since the late 1950's.  ( Former ) Master Piano Repair Craftsman Tuner/Technician Lee Edwards was nationally recognized for his expertise in repairing almost every kind of automated musical instruments, Master piano tuner-piano technician Nelson Edwards (son) continues the tradition having invested his professional life specializing in the acoustic piano tuning and repair field, and (grandson/ nephew) Josh Lanier is plying the family's trade as well.  Both Nelson and Josh are native Atlantans.  Lee and Nelson were in the employee of Jim Scott Piano and Organ Company (as contractors), and proudly serviced Yamaha Pianos in all facets of preparation, warranty tuning, field repair, and piano tuning.

Back to top

Back to Home Page

Contact Us

Commercial Clients/Affiliations Past and Present...


The Mighty Mortier (Owned and operated by Lee Edwards in the '60's and '70's) backed up Hank Aaron in
the outfield of Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.  This showpiece is one of the world's largest band organs.

  *Six Flags Over Georgia
           *The Salvation Army
                   *The Atlanta Braves Organization
                            *The Hilton, Marriott, Ritz Carlton, Crown Plaza, and the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotels
                                     *McNair Amusement Park
                                             *'The Old Sautee Store' in Helen, GA
                                                    *Chateau Elan Country Club in Braselton, GA
                                                          *The 14th Street Playhouse/ G-Four Productions
                                    *The former Jim Scott Organ and Piano Company (Authorized Yamaha Piano Technicians),
                                      Cooper Music, England Piano & Organ Company, Baldwin of Atlanta, and Southern Keyboards

Back to top

Back to Home Page

Contact Us

Our Specialty Services...

Pictured are one of the Edwards' fun machines (a 1901 Oldsmobile), and one of the calliopes
that comprised Lee Edwards' extensive rare instrument collection.  Lee Edwards is nationally
recognized for his expertise in the automated vintage instrument repair field.

  This family specializes in servicing :

  Contemporary Acoustic Pianos, Vintage Instruments,  Antique Grands, Vertical

 Pianos (uprights), Player Pianos, Nickelodeons, Pump Organs, Calliopes, Band

 Organs, Reed Organs, Square Grand Pianos, Bird Cage Upright Pianos, Roller

Organs, Orchestrians, Harpsichords, One-Man-Bands (we do it all!).  

This section will be left in this site as a tribute to my father Lee Edwards.  He was truly the specialist when
 it came to rare automated musical instrument repair.  He is sorely missed.

Back to top

Back to Home Page

Contact Us

SPINET PIANO

     Spinet pianos are most commonly characterized by their size.  They range in height 36" to around 42"  (give or take a few inches ).  In technical terminology they are also referred to as drop action pianos or more correctly indirect blow action pianos ( the piano key pulls or provides an indirect blow which pulls the action into motion rods we call in the industry - stickers).  They may be small in stature, but are complete pianos with complex escapement mechanism, piano key lengths ranging from just under one foot to over fourteen inches, an over-strung scale design for the piano wires,  and last but certainly not least well over fifteen tons of tension on the structure of that tiny musical instrument when the piano is tuned to A440.  The higher grade spinet pianos boast comparable tuning stability to larger piano designs, and no loss of sound resonance.  The downside characteristic of medium to low quality spinet pianos is resident dissonance in the piano wires ( particularly in the bass piano wires ).  Some also argue that because of the shorter piano key length, the dynamic range that makes expression possible in acoustic pianos is some what diminished in spinet pianos.

     In comparison to an electronic keyboard, there is none but that they both have ebonies and ivories.  By far, most teachers will recommend a spinet piano over an electronic keyboard if an individual's primary concern is a balance between budget and not compromising seeking an acoustic piano.  Because they are the smallest piano, they typically are the most affordable.  They also are a favorite choice for constricted living conditions, and for individuals who move frequently ( with some difficulty they can actually be carried ... most weigh around three to five hundred pounds.  Whereas larger pianos will be significantly over 500 lbs. and impossible to carry ).  Grade as a starter piano? 9.5 out of 10.

Back to top

CONSOLE PIANO

     Console pianos are preferable to own over spinet pianos because they are the first class of piano that contains a direct blow action.  In layman's terminology, a direct blow action means greater feel ( control ) over the loud sounds and soft sounds a piano is literally named for.  Originally pianos were called 'piano-forte' which translated means 'soft-loud'. 

     Console pianos also have a piano wire ( string ) length that is anywhere from four inches to over a foot longer than spinet piano wire lengths.  This means more resonant sound, with longer sustaining tones. 

     Also along with the bigger structure comes more stability for all the weight that console pianos support.  A typical console piano will sustain somewhere just shy of twenty tons of tension distributed across 200+ piano wires at A440.

     There is a caution in regard to console pianos and some spinet pianos as well.  This is a very attractive, decorative leg that supports the front of the keyboard.  This 'leg' typically has almost no structural integrity.  Put simply it will crack and break away from the piano with an amazing amount of ease.  For this reason, when this piano is moved, great care should be taken to not allow this leg to receive side pressure from any angle.  Some times, if I assess the risk to the leg is great enough, I'll actually remove it before moving the piano.

Back to top

STUDIO/UPRIGHT PIANO

     Studio pianos and upright pianos are quite similar overall.  Both types of piano have direct blow actions.  This type of action has a piano key that extends under the action, so when the key is depressed it literally transfers a direct blow type of motion to the action of the piano.  The studio and upright piano types also have the longest key length of any vertical piano class.  These key lengths will range from over a foot long to just shy of twenty inches ( give or take a couple ).  This translates to the most controllable touch of any piano except grand pianos.

     These studio piano and upright piano types also have a much more stable frame and structure than any other vertical piano class, and the longest piano wire length.  A studio piano ranges around four feet high whereas an upright piano is around three to five inches taller.  More tuning stability, a more resonant musical instrument with longer sustaining musical tones, this is the preferable upright or vertical type of piano to own.  Also because of the stable frame, these types are usually seen in classrooms of various schools or other institutions such as churches.  They can be rolled around with some ease from room to room without the stability of the piano tuning being adversely affected.

     One may also find in the vintage upright pianos the only introduction of a sostenuto rail.  Rarely occurring in a few brands of antique pianos is a version of a rail operated from a pedal that permits an individual to play and sustain one set of notes without having to sustain the dampers from the rest of the piano's notes.

     Around the turn of the century literally thousands of piano companies world-wide were producing mass quantities of upright pianos.  The result in current times of this is large masses of upright pianos available at a fraction of their actual value simply because there are so many sitting around not being used.  For this reason upright pianos are also available as an excellent starter piano.  It is not at all unusual for an upright piano to be purchased for under one thousand dollars ( sometimes significantly less ).  Many times an upright piano can be obtained merely by going and picking it up... no easy feat!

Back to top

GRAND PIANO

     The inimitable grand piano is simply the standard of acoustic pianos.  The "repetition lever" in a grand piano's action sets it completely apart from every vertical piano ever made.  This lever catches a portion of the grand piano's action, enabling extremely fast repetition rates.  While this is not a 'make it or break it' scenario for most piano players, what will translate to every player's touch regardless of skill or expertise is that this is the most accurate reproduction of the pressure used to play a key. 

     Another feature of better quality grand pianos is the sostenuto pedal.  This pedal allows a piano player to hold down one set of keys, depress the sostenuto, then go ahead and play away on the rest of the keys  without worrying they will sound.  This is a feature that only a more accomplished pianist will appreciate.

     A grand piano is also the most aesthetically appealing piano.  Beauty in operation, beauty when it's sitting dormant in your room, this type of piano is my strong recommendation if an individual has the means to truly treat themselves to the best.

     When it comes to dynamic range (control of loud playing and soft playing), a grand piano having a key that is in some cases as much as a foot or more longer than some vertical piano gives even more control to the piano player. 

     One of the biggest negatives with grand pianos is they have a tendency to take over a room (unless the room is very large).

     Having been in the piano business for many years,  I've never seen grand piano prices lower.  This is an excellent opportunity for a purchaser.  I strongly recommend that any prospective piano shopper get at least a minimal education of what's available, then shop several different pianos before making a decision.

     I've said this before on this site, and I'll say it again.  There are many fine quality vertical pianos available that pass the test of the most discriminating touch.  Grand pianos are simply the best, and I mean to have nothing else inferred here.  The addition of a definition segment of piano types is answering a question posed many times over in a technician's travels.

 Back to top