Acoustic To Digital Piano Conversion, How To - Introduction to Series - Ragland Piano

An introduction to a "how to" series we're producing called "Acoustic to Digital Piano Conversion" where we go through, step by step, conversion of an acoustic piano into a digital piano while retaining the stock appearance.
Subseries 1 - "Disassembly", Part 1/4 - • Acoustic to Digital Pi... . This subseries covers complete disassembly of an original, acoustic piano in preparation for conversion.
Subseries 2 - "Installation of new keys/action" - in production
Subseries 3 - "Digital Component Installation" - in production
Check back periodically for updated links to additional videos and products/kits.
Main website: www.raglandpiano.com
Our eBay store - casters, action & key parts & more: www.ebay.com/str/raglandpiano...
Digital Conversions Available: raglandpiano.com/index.php/cu...
Ragland Piano has been converting acoustic pianos into digital pianos since the late 1990's. Demand for this has increased as digital piano technology has improved, to the point that in 2019 we made this a core focus of the business and in 2022 the main focus of the business.
We are actively working on offering several different kits that will enable a piano tech or DIYer to perform this conversion.

[@DAVE121063]

Hi, this is a really great idea and a very interesting video. There are some lovely old piano cabinets out there that would otherwise go to landfill. My upright acoustic has been retrofitted with a midi switch rail under the keys, but I can still play it as an acoustic, or bring in a bar to stop the hammers just short of the strings and have midi only (or both!).

[@jannellemccullough9172]

I have been watching your series on converting acoustic to digital and found the dismantle videos to be super helpful. But there really aren’t many videos showing how to install and finish the digital transformation. Is this something you will do at some point?? I am in Australia, so unable to get you wonderful people to do it for me…

[@ELDENITE-1]

This video deserves more viewers

[@user-cz6se1ve5k]

Great video ! Thank you ! Can you please tell me, what kind of sensors did you use in the upright piano at 6:01 ? Is this from the Casio ? I never seen this kind of sensors in an acoustic piano's action.. Thank you very much.

[@kristopherdetar4346]

Absolute GOLD !! I have been twisting an idea about this for some years but have not the wherewithal or technical know how in going about this. I absolutely love your forward thinking with this offering for customers. I would love to visit your shop in person to learn more. Thanks for posting this video Mr. G !

[@kazhilly]

Wow, that is Brilliant!!

[@davidcarter1121]

Heavily considering one of these for my home!

[@BethMartin91]

If you did this with DS5.5/DS6.0 keyboards it would be amazing. Im watching your videos because im finding that ill have to do that myself.

[@sebastianfalca2833]

hello! Very good work, I really like what they do, I dedicate myself to the tuning and restoration of acoustic pianos in Argentina. I am also dabbling in electronics, it is a world that I really like, I am working on a project to put this electrical circuit in a Lester mini piano, I am already installing the mechanism on the keyboard, I would like to know what distance you have put between the surface of the key and the surface of the contact rubber. thank you so much!!! greetings from "El bolson Patagonia argentina!!!!!

[@ELDENITE-1]

Where can I find the more in-depth explanation on how to convert a acoustic piano to a digital piano, like a full course if you will.

[@rombioliwood]

I tried but unfortunately the rubber pads make the touch feeling like when you have letoffs a bit tie. I'm now replacing the pads with reed switches as only touch less option as switches on an ordinary board can't be replaced with optical or Hall sensors(as Hall S. have a minimum os current absorption. Probably magnets will interfere to near keys so they should put on different "lines" on any other keys per line. Good luck to me tho. At least I can still play it acoustically but still a little challenging to have silent system for "free", used a yamaha p95 for that.

[@raglandpiano]

Using brand name rubber contact pads (Yamaha, Kawai, Casio, etc.) is tricky but doable. You have to exactly replicate the clearances and travel of the pads when in the original keyset.

[@clydebermingham121]

Digital Furniture 🙏🏽

[@h5mind373]

I wouldn't have any qualms about doing this to a well-used (but used up) Steinway shell. For example, a family had stored their Steinway in a non-climate-controlled facility, and the humidity ruined it. They were giving it away to anyone able to make use of it. From a practical standpoint, this would allow these incredible pieces of furniture to be used where a straight acoustic would fear to tread.

[@abc-yv2js]

I have some bass pedals from an old organ but I want them to be midi so I can use a good synth module on them. What do I buy or how do I do this? Thanks for any advice

[@raglandpiano]

Not something I do but I've seen instances where it's been done. Keep looking, someone out there has a how-to....

[@abc-yv2js]

Thanks. I'll get it done@@raglandpiano

[@DaraM73]

Great work, but that Casio tone isn’t realistic enough for the cabinets. Kawai, dexibell or even Kurzweil produce better, imho.

[@clydebermingham121]

I would like an actual action that came with a piano with just midi strip installed

[@raglandpiano]

We do that

[@clydebermingham121]

@@raglandpiano … Thank You 🙏🏽 … Now that’s most ideal to my interests 🙏🏽🤗🙏🏽

[@clydebermingham121]

@@raglandpiano .. Which system do you guys prefer to use , as far as midi strips / rials / bar to place under a piano’s natural key action ?

[@zakaroonetwork777]

Please stop doing this to the rare find pianos. I would have restored that Chickering with the guts from a a Baldwin at-least.

[@kristopherdetar4346]

Did you not understand the basic message about cost? I’ve been restoring pianos for 12 years and the piano industry has tanked. People are NOT willing to spend money needed to restore old pianos. COVID KILLED my shop and it’s barely breathing now after three years. This forward thinking has very good potential to keep an old piano out of the city dump and offer a family to keep their piano with new life that can be more versatile with the offerings of a digital piano.

[@rombioliwood]

@@kristopherdetar4346 Many people think old pianos are more worth than new ones when in reality it's the opposite.

[@raglandpiano]

Clients willing to pay for a proper restoration are few and far between where the number of clients interested in these conversions is growing.