[sdiy] disklavier/midi piano

[rkmoore at memphis.edu]

Hi Andrew,

I don't know about a diskclavier retro-fit, but I have a word to say 
about piano choice.  You may want to start out with a yamaha cp-70 or 
something similar (Kawai also made a portable acoustic piano with a 
line out).  The harp even in the small uprights that I have seen are 
still monstrous and weighs a ton if you want to transport them 
regularly.  The yamaha already has a smaller harp with shorter 
strings.  It also has piezo transducers and a preamp.  Even though you 
may find a monstrous old upright for free, starting with an instrument 
in decent shape with some of the engineering for mobility already done 
will be more than worth what you will have to pay (if you intend to 
produce a mobile and useable device).  

If you choose to make your electroacoustic project from an upright 
piano, as I have done (...sigh), be able to talk to a good piano tech 
for advice.  I've been warned to be careful dealing with the harp and 
wires(most of the wires are under about 150lbs of tension).

Richard Moore

----- Original Message -----
From: "mahogany at simdisc.com" <mahogany at simdisc.com>
Date: Saturday, December 11, 2004 3:26 am
Subject: [sdiy] disklavier/midi piano

> Hi All,
> Been lurking on the list for a while now, learning a lot; this is 
> a great,
> diverse group of people. 
> I've finally got something I thought I might bring up: I am 
> interested in
> fitting a Disklavier-like 
> system to a piano, where I would strip out the keyboard and case, 
> leavingthe 'guts' and 
> soundboard--which I would then build into a large rolling road case.
> Basically I want to wind 
> up with an instrument that would sound somewhat like a piano and 
> could be
> mic'd and/or 
> fitted with transducers, but it would be entirely MIDI-actuated and
> portable. Is it possible to 
> purchase a Disklavier or Disklavier-like kit to install? Or is 
> there a DIY
> parts list/instruction set 
> to download somewhere? Curious if this subject is even applicable 
> to the
> list, but all the recent 
> talk about the Telharmonium got me thinking more about physically
> mechanical instruments. 
> Take care,
> Andrew.
> 
> Andrew Prinz | Mahogany | The Simultaneous Workshop
> mahogany at simdisc.com | workshop at simdisc.com
> 
> 
> 
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