On Toy Pianos - Episode 1: Goldon

This video is the start of series on an instrument that has fascinated me for a long time - the acoustic toy piano.
What interests me about toy pianos is that they sound innocent, yet they can easily morph into sinister. Their basic sound is simple, naive, yet due to the stresses of time most toy pianos drift into their own, off-key tuning, with no way that I know of retuning. Each toy piano sounds unique, even from the same manufacturer. Sadly, these instruments are dying out, as the process of playing them also destroy them, with no service available. So with this series I hope to capture some of their magic.
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[@jtills100]

Slight correction to the information in your video. I work for Schoenhut Piano Company ( www.schoenhut.com ) and we do still sell a handful of Jaymar models. While they are not advertised, if someone wishes to purchase a new one they can contact us at 1-888-414-2739 or [e-mail]

[@Hainbach]

Thank you Jason! I will make your post a sticky once I am back at the computer. Hope to someday try one of your pianos, I only heard them on KZbin so far.

[@BirthquakeRecords]

Cooooool

[@edwardborgias]

I recently got one from my Nans that we used to play 30 years ago I think it's roughly 50 years old and I'm currently refurbishing it and it's a nightmare. Great fun when I was a kid and wanted my nieces and nephews to enjoy it like we did. Now I wish I didn't find it lol.. I can't stop working on it and it I keep finding hacks to fix one problem but it never ends. I'll be 80 and still working on it. The Sheonhut did provide me with hours of great fun at the expense of anyone around me I just wish I could get parts. Do you sell parts for the insanely old models?

[@sadrhogollsodia9505]

Out of stock 9/20/22

[@noqu9695]

2 years ago I found a 49 key Jaymar in good condition from OfferUp for $40!! I managed to fix a couple muted/broken keys. It’s almost perfect...1 key’s rod just needs more steel added for perfect tuning. 4 octave toy pianos are so rare, I couldn’t believe I found it. It’ll be with me forever

[@Slacquerr]

This is the niche-eist thing I've ever watched on KZbin. Chris Vrenna sampled a number of toy piano's for the soundtrack to _American_ _McGee's_ _Alice_ _in_ _Wonderland_ .

[@Hainbach]

My favourite niche-channel is the guy eating MRIs.

[@Slacquerr]

Please, tell me you meant "Meals Ready to Eat" and not "Magnetic Resonance Imaging."

[@Hainbach]

Meals ready to eat, I misspelled 😋

[@ToNiej0]

I have one of these simple Goldons with the painted on black keys. Bought it years ago and didn't know the history. So thanks for making this video. Despite being the simplest Goldon, I still think it sounds pretty good.

[@SynthsandSounds]

Wow, what a beautiful yet sad video. Thank you sharing these sights of an unknown, dying world

[@jeremiahyost]

Never realised how much I needed this particular style of sound, time to hunt for some toy pianos!

[@yaanno]

already in love with this series, absolutely beautiful broken little things :) i wonder how younger people will or do relate to these sounds as they offer immediate nostalgia and emotional content for those who had the chance to hear / use these toys at some point (not in the Hainbach way tho). it must be wonderful to see how the audience reacts to this in theaters! :)

[@troypeterson6057]

I discovered your videos a couple of weeks ago, and you have inspired me SO much. I actually have a lot of the gear you feature in your videos, and for years I had been doing recording experiments, tape delays, playing with micro cassettes, reel to reel, kalimbas and homemade acoustic instruments, circuit bending, etc.. but at some point a couple of years ago I sort of ran out of steam. I have been plunking around with drum machines and synths, losing focus, and you have inspired me to get all the weird gear back out and start playing with tape speed, clicks, clanks and hiss. Thank you.

[@Hainbach]

Troy, that is beautiful to hear!

[@Bedroom_Punk]

I knew this video would be pure magic when I saw that you were putting together a toy piano series. I was not disappointed. ♥️

[@buckrogez87]

I've always loved the eerie qualities of toy pianos. This is such a cool concept for a video, kinda gives people a way to search them out.

[@joelavcoco]

Fascinating. Hoping to see more installments in this series.

[@dustboxednorth]

Just stopping by to say that your videos never fail to put a smile on my face. Awesome stuff, man.

[@stephpicher]

Hello! This is the first of your videos that I watched (I watched many of them since and like them all). But, BUT. You present it as a series, however I think this is still the only one! We're waiting! ;) Anyway cheers, keep up the excellent work!

[@dairylandbogurt]

I love how each one has such different character. I could see how it could become a very fun treasure hunt seeking these out. I just checked my local Craigslist but no luck.. You might have a harder time finding more of these after making this video series :)

[@Hainbach]

Yeah, but luckily I have enough of the ones you can buy in Germany 🙂. It's becoming an issue of space already.

[@patrickconnelly2904]

Your honesty is awesome. "It's a bit unpleasant on its own," made me laugh.

[@andrebartels1690]

I loved the one with the bird decor on it best, its sound is lovely.

[@cultofours2648]

You can file the tines to be shorter. That is the only way to tune them that I'm aware of. Of course, this will only make the pitch higher. I believe you could apply a magnet or weld more metal to make the pitch lower.

[@Hainbach]

Strange, I replied to this but the answer appears to be gone - that is an interesting tip, especially the magnets. Could be nice for prepared sounds, too.

[@Schwa_Iska]

I don’t have experience with toy pianos but with my kalimba I sometimes use large bobby pins to extend the tines. They often vibrate themselves right off making the pitch bend upwards, but it’s good for a ‘prepared’ sound. I used them on this track: soundcloud.com/schwa_iska/cloak I believe I pitched them down a bit too.

[@Luministmusic]

I've heard of people using solder to add mass for fine tuning as well - never tried to see it works, but I can't see why it wouldn't!

[@user-mx6ho2mo8g]

I think if you file off material on the sides the tines should become thinner and also the pitch should become deeper. I haven't tried that on my toypiano but I tuned a wetlmeister claviset like this. So it might work

[@darwinsaye]

Filing the tines shorter raises the pitch, filing some off the sides at their other end, near where they are mounted, lowers the pitch.

[@8_hrs]

This man never blink

[@lynksdisease8795]

YES! (i use exclamation marks rarely) You & I have the same interests in Toy Piano sounds, i'm just interested full stop lately in innocent/cute sounds & how they'd contrast in darker contexts. I know the Yamaha Reface CP has a toy piano mode in there. But as you said, it would be nothing in comparison to an authentic old one.

[@MrBasic]

Awesome. In a band, I used to play a Jaymar. They have a nice warm sound.

[@Hainbach]

Yes indeed! A very interesting sound.

[@MAYSUNmusic]

Thank you for continuously adding instruments to my ''to buy'' list. or ''to find'' list. . .

[@Hainbach]

Oh it would work so well with your Setup!

[@MAYSUNmusic]

I just scanned the whole internet for a nice goldon. I like the physical sound of the keys before they hit the tines :)

[@MegaEmmanuel09]

"It has a lovely grandfather clock ring to it" Proceeds to play an excerpt from my nightmare last night 😅

[@Tuariq1]

I never thought I could be so invested in toy pianos! It would be so lovely if they weren't so clicky

[@Hainbach]

You can do something about that with extra felts. I have a restoration video planned where I show how.

[@qt_mizuki5436]

great ! i'm impatient to see the rest of the series !

[@handmadepianos3889]

Broken keys can be fixed. The most difficult thing is to remove the part of the string from the base, I use some oil, and beat it. Then, it is necessary to have a donor. I usually have some spare strings. Such way I restored middle C on my Goldon toy piano.

[@LiftedNoise]

This is awesome!

[@tuileriesantiques9057]

The German one’s sounded the best! It sounded so rich!

[@ConwayBob]

I love toy pianos and what you do with them! I'm always looking for these things in thrift shops, hoping to find a better one than the one I have. I've got a fairly nice Schoenhut "grand," but am still looking for just the right one. Thanks for the sounds!

[@churchofaggressiveaudio6498]

Thank you for this. As always, fascinating and of historical significance.

[@sp3ct3rsd3mos]

hey man. is Jim Wylde from IG... i used an old 50s Jaymar wooden piano over on my youtube for a demo of AC noises AMA reverb it rocked!!! what you have done in this episode made me feel happy btw...

[@Tuariq1]

This sounds so good! I'm really looking forward for more!

[@artuandelierree]

Thank you for this videos, I really love the way you use the timbre of toy pianos. as a toy piano afficionado, I'm looking forward for the next videos ! I also own a miniature piano with real strings instead of metal rod. it sounds a bit like a cymbalum. did you ever try one of theses ?

[@Hainbach]

Thank you! Ist it per chance a Michelsonne? I remember seeing that in parts at the place where I bought the Jaymar. I have not heard it though.

[@artuandelierree]

No I don't think it's a Michelsonne, there was a "Debain" plate on it, but I it was added later. I found an identical piano in France so I think several were made. I use it in this video : kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWOwaJmlqK5oacU (edit: word repeat and spelling)

[@sounddoctorin]

we're working over a rhodes pre-piano which is in essence an amplified toy piano. metal has to be pretty close to sound same a steel used...and .115" instead of .125" commonly available steel rod.

[@sounddoctorin]

PS I was told they are actual clock parts and a local clock guy had .115"..but bronze! no good!

[@murimk]

Cool, looking forward to this series! I actually want to make my own toy piano, using a chopped up piano keybed (from a "real" piano) and making my own metal rods. What I don't know is how to make the metal bar to mount the rods - to many varaibles I don't understand, and I don't have access to one to copy. So - if a request is in order I'd very much like to see close up vids of the metal bar and info on how that whole thing works and how it's connected to the resonant chamber. :-)

[@Hainbach]

Noted!

[@handmadepianos3889]

I made a big toy piano from four standard toy pianos. I used some piano string to make long rods. You can visit my youtube to observe this.

[@channtron]

you can try to repair the broken keys with 3d printers, the important thing is to take the weight and center off mass right (maybe they won't be as nice as the originals, but functionals), and the hammers souldn't be that difficult to be remake. love the sounds and how you are able to take the ambient music live to another level!

[@Hainbach]

Thank you very much! Yeah, hammers are easy. But can 3dprinting create sounding tines? These are mostly the cause of these not working. Keys are strangely indestructible ( I misspoke in the video, with broken keys I meant the tines).

[@channtron]

oh, the tines should be reworked or redone maybe with a lathe , but the problem would be the steel they are made from. i suppose that every brand might use a slightly different type. And that is expensive :/

[@jean-pierrejoubert6140]

I wonder if the tines couldn’t also be fine tuned by adding solder. I remember reading that this method is used in tuning Fender Rhodes tines so it should be applicable here, too, at least for those who are out of tune but whole.

[@channtron]

Jean-Pierre Joubert yes, or adding any other weight to the end, solder and filling would work.

[@Hainbach]

Oh, I gotta try that solder method. But Rhodes tines are way shorter and thinner, so that would have less effect here.

[@torilsusegg9572]

Very interesting! Love this video!

[@Vishnu-xn4vx]

The man at 3:57 looks so much like Michael Gira hahaha Amazing video as always

[@triplebacon1]

Excellent content Hainbach

[@TVToyPianoTV]

Very interesting video. And I love Michelsonne’s sound!

[@Hainbach]

Thank you! I love your avatar.

[@handwriting8804]

that french one sounds exactly like the toy piano preset on a synth from the 80s. I can't remember which one it's reminding me of, but I swear I've heard that exact sound before.

[@DivKid]

this was excellent, looking forward to more.

[@Hainbach]

Hopefully Tuesday I can get time to record part 2

[@purplenumberF]

The little red one at 6:00 is a Goldon Pianetta. The logo isn't even plastic, it's just sprayed on through a stencil. Good quality ones are super cheap - probably because they sound so bad.

[@pablopena2756]

Hi, congratulations for your channel, it'ss amazing and very interesting. I'm looking information about Guerini toy pianos...well really i wanna know how it sounds...do you know any about that? Thanks a lot!!

[@jurekdensow4101]

0:42 perfect for what?

[@moherr1]

I purchased a Michelsonne once. I do not regret, even if it costs quite a lot of pesetas (or escudos or whatever!)

[@Moruial]

That red one looks like a BBQ. The sound of the green one is actually really pleasant to me.

[@hollsound]

Cutie instruments! Thanks for your video!

[@gastonjabaly]

I have a jaymar its made of cardboqrd would changing. The sound bboard to real wood will oimprove the overall tone?

[@joaquinbrasher3722]

THERE IS A WAY TO TUNE THEM! You tune them the same way you tune a Rhodes. Little springs on the tines. It is more like you are tuning the overtones but it does help with tuning in general!

[@tedbarganski4540]

The broken pianos sound like something straight out of drukqs

[@Hainbach]

Had the vinyl box of that when it came out!

[@XylenRoberts]

l am totally gonna download some of your sample packs at some point. Your music is sick and your sound techniques are the shit. I make a mixture of experimental hiphop, art rock, electronica and other genres and am always looking to experiment with new sounds. Btw I beleive Tom Waits has utilized toy piano on a number of his albums, including Alice and Swordfishtrombones. I also recall them being used by Olivia Tremor Control, Aphex Twin and others. Peace!

[@klausenpfad]

Hi, thank you for your TP-Videos! I have a little Goldon toy piano and want to use it with my modular gear. Do you know a module for down pitching the piano sound in real time? There are samplers like the ONE, which can change the pitch, but you have to record the piano sound before. How to do the pitching live in the eurorack wordl? Peter

[@e-mananimates2274]

I don't suppose it's possible to replicate the Goldon pianos, right? Finding a way to simulate the wear from the passage of time could help.

[@myguitardidyermom212]

I love the overtones on some of those. They need to make more metal-tined pianos

[@Hainbach]

I agree!

[@Goon-124]

This is great. Looking forward to more. I wonder if it would be worth opening communication to a youtube machinest or maker to create something in collaboration but more robust but still had the soul you're looking for.

[@Hainbach]

That is awesome idea! I had not even thought about looking on KZbin for someone. Can you recommend a channel?

[@vegisaynom]

@@Hainbach the guy who built the amazing instrument "wintergatan" may be able to help you out, and someone who may be able to help make some interesting electronic instruments, would be the post apocalyptic inventor! He does lots of repairs on old electronic devices and builds some cool stuff :)

[@vegisaynom]

@@Hainbach and there's another KZbinr greatScott who is excellent at building and repairing things, does lots of electronics, wood and metalwork!

[@Goon-124]

I'd agree with suggesting wintergatan, but he's deep in the weeds working on his new marble machine. my knowledge of makers is somewhat spotty, so i can't think of any off the top of my head :/

[@ToNiej0]

Maybe Wouter van Veldhoven from the Netherlands would be interested. He has a KZbin channel under his own name.

[@t55a2]

I wonder if that is why Yamaha put a 'Toy' preset on the Reface CP?

[@lynksdisease8795]

I was interested in it for it's Wurlitzer/Rhodes sounds, but as soon as I saw the Toy preset I was REALLLLY interested.

[@K1tteh]

you might be able to retune your toy pianos by adding solder to the rod(s) to increase the mass

[@Hainbach]

Interesting idea!

[@thomaskrasemann709]

Hi Hainbach- or others. Does anybody know how the mechanism of folding the keyboard up in Goldon works? I got an old one and someone has just screwed the lid, which is a shame...

[@49mrbassman]

I'm about to start on a full restoration of a Brazilian made Hering chromatic upright.

[@robertsyrett1992]

Nice intro with the cast roll call :)

[@Hainbach]

Thank you! First time I made something in a video I plan to reuse

[@caddisjj3764]

I love the sound of these pianos they sound like they’ve seen some shit

[@SoggySandwich80]

They’ve heard some shit

[@The.Foolosopher]

Have you tried the new kawaii toy pianos. They sound like mini Celeste

[@peterfalconer]

You might want to check out Nuria Bonet - Catalan composer who has developed a speciality in Toy Pianos. They've also done a WONDERFUL piece for clarinet and seagulls...

[@waltersmetak]

Perfect for creating a sort of foreboding ambience - very uncanny sounding or to recall what you Germans perfectly term as "unheimlich".....

[@Hainbach]

Absolutely! Unheimlich is such a beautiful word, so hard to capture in fully in translation. Same with uncanny.

[@BrunoWiebelt]

what a collection, learned something

[@milibuda]

The broken ones are a good challenge for a 3d-printer :) You could fix them easily I think.

[@stefan1024]

Großartig!

[@joshgrondin3675]

I just bought a Goldon online. It looks identical to your "blue dream" but in red. I was curious how you got the top/back off. I'm trying to get the keybeds unstuck and can't seem to open it up.

[@Hainbach]

It is glued on this model if I remember correctly, so you will have to apply something to unglue.

[@joshgrondin3675]

@@Hainbach Thanks so much for getting back! Yeah, it does appear to be, so I’ll give that a try.

[@manishsapariya4541]

Hi, Need information from you regarding metals rods you showed at 2:50 in your video. Could you please tell me which metal is getting used? Thanks in Advance. Your answer will be very helpful to me.

[@Hainbach]

I have no idea honestly

[@jffkmml]

Hering toy pianos from Brazil are also wonderful.

[@Hainbach]

I have seen this on eBay. They don't follow the standard piano layout, right? I need to get one of them, shipping is killer though.

[@danielcaetano7979]

@@Hainbach I'm from brasil. these are reasonably cheap here.

[@Hainbach]

Yeah, same as with Goldons here.

[@Hainbach]

Wonderful that in this globalised world there are still commercial instruments unique to a country or community.

[@meachy]

I know they are toys for children, but to me they all sound like nightmare fodder soundtrack.

[@Rustik1722]

Can you recommend an fX unit for under $300 you think is ok to use w synth, field recording, and sounds for experimental electronic and house? I don’t have modular synths FYI Thank you

[@Hainbach]

Koma Field Kit Fx

[@knuchel25]

Thanks for your video, this is very interesting :)

[@Hainbach]

Thank you Luc!

[@The.Foolosopher]

Where can I buy samples of these toy pianos?

[@middknight5202]

That’s sad Toy Pianos of old can’t be easily repaired/tuned 😢😢😢

[@edsavage6214]

What's the french one called? Love the sound of that!

[@Hainbach]

Its a Michelsonne.

[@N02tradamus]

Hello Hainbach, Do you sell your OP1, Wav Samples seperatley? I want access to them but not into monthly memberships. If I cancel Patreon, I want to make sure you are getting paid. Appreciate it. I love how you talk about sound quality and texture. Your passion is infectious.

[@Hainbach]

sorry, I don't sell them separately, they are a bonus for patrons only. I have gotten a lot of requests to make a big library, but right now I have no time for that.

[@raycordmusic]

Interesting! Merci!

[@wilmerparis2202]

what microphone is that your using to record the samples? also great video! would love to see more of this

[@Hainbach]

Its a Sennheiser MD21 - a beautiful mic that goes very well with the Nagra.

[@trulyinfamous]

You could make a cool fantasy track with these pianos. Not elder scrolls, but maybe something more classic.

[@UntrueTheBand]

I thought that the "KAWAI Mini Grand Piano 32" was quite usable. A'm I wrong?

[@Stevensonnnnnn]

Amazing video thank you. Can I ask, have you tried the new Korg Tiny Piano?

[@Stevensonnnnnn]

Scrap that. I just heard one on KZbin. Ooft :-(

[@Hainbach]

I was just going to look at it, glad I can skip that 🙂

[@scottasin]

where's part 2?

[@Hainbach]

Still to do.

[@oranebeast]

Hey Hainbach! Love your videos, and though unrelated to toy pianos, I was wondering what the Field Kit FX actually...does? I've looked it up online but I can't find an explanation On the topic of toy pianos-- I had a weird day many months ago where I found a bunch of weird soundfonts from old samplers and found that the toy piano soundfonts where the most variable, especially when changing the attack slider to create a pad. Let me know if you'd like to see an upload of those Love from New Zealand!

[@Hainbach]

Here you go: ttps://kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGrUcnmQrc6MbZY I would love to hear those sound fonts!

[@0cer0]

One of my all-time favourite life performances has a cheap plastic toy piano in it, and, at the end, it substantially contributes to the magic. Sigur Rós, Se Lest live, on «Heima«. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4DXo2areamratk Moves me to tears, every time I watch it.

[@matoldiges5299]

Sample packs?

[@OttookkowumbeFM]

I will try to fix my goldon grandiosa with spring steel rods 3mm and new holes because the rest of the broken ones i cant remove. hugs

[@rukamarine3005]

DO YOU BLINK? Or your staring at a Weeping angel.

[@emojijoyio]

They look like baby upright pianos they look cute but they sound so horrendous

[@zacharias_b]

baust du am ende der serie dein eigenes kleines klavier? seems simpler than expected

[@Hainbach]

Das wär ein Traum!

[@zacharias_b]

so wie das für einen laien wie mich aussieht, braucht man nur holz und metallstäbe in verschiedenen längen, ein bisschen filz und fertig. das ganze in ne nette holzbox zwecks akustik und fertig ist der Haindon ;-)

[@basilwhite]

Please help me find a toy piano that doesn't look like a toy piano; preferably a bell piano that does not drift out of tune. I need to play piano at outdoor festivals with other musicians that play traditional instruments.

[@solonimbus_yt]

What's the tune you play at 1:08?

[@Hainbach]

Something I made up on the spot.

[@solonimbus_yt]

I think it is pretty neat. Thanks for replying.

[@MrLiamenator]

I like your glasses

[@Hainbach]

Thank you! The frame is actually broken, waiting on replacement.

[@ClassicRockLivesOn]

I would like to hear what a Japanese toy piano sounds like

[@Hainbach]

I don't have one! Have to travel to Japan at some point.

[@Pepelivingston77]

6:08 AND HIS NAME IS JOHN CENA

[@theunionbeats1]

bra sell that green one to me

[@averagepainter]

i know these are and were cheap and they deliver the sounds you want. but i wonder wether there was no valid way to make them sound better - they seem so unbelievably crude.

[@Hainbach]

There is and it's called Michelsonne.

[@maksymushka]

I want to be your friend.

[@KaidoLP]

I have a 3D printer in Berlin if you are interested in some spares

[@emojijoyio]

It sounds terrible it sounds like bells the glockenspiel one was probably a celesta