How to Gut and Retrofit an Upright Piano for Your Keyboard

In this episode I'm showing you how we gutted and retrofitted an upright piano to fit your keyboard for your stage. Thank you for watching. Please SUBSCRIBE to be updated when new content is released.
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[@amwhatiis]

Did the same thing a few years back, but found that still having the soundboard in it made it too heavy for practical use (in our situation). Worked on getting the soundboard out for weeks, but those things are in there! Ended up scrapping the project in the end. Watching this makes me want to try again haha!

[@JustMe-999a]

The soundboard weighs a couple of pounds..... It's just a thin piece of wood

[@nrivera7753]

Good job God bless you and your family and your church take care 🙂

[@SamiraNicole]

This video is helpful! I referenced it to begin gutting an old piano for a project at my church. Searched Facebook marketplace and found an upright that sat at about 3ft in height which is perfect for a worship environment. We also decided to remove the cast iron harp. It is taking a while but will be worth it to make it easier to move.

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Wow, glad to help in that way. Thanks so much for watching. Please send a photo to us on Instagram if you can. I would love to see a before and after.

[@MimicoBungalow]

One enhancement that I did on MY conversion (see previous comment) is build the pedal mechanism into the existing sustain pedal - so it looks more authentic with the cover down (yes, like a 'real' piano!! heh heh heh

[@traceywhitney1272]

Thanks so much for this tutorial. I've been looking at buying shells from various companies and they can run in the thousands - AND need to be shipped at $100s - and not be nearly as sturdy as these old pianos!

[@andrew-engdahl]

We did this a while back but we removed the metal frame in front of the soundboard. This gave us enough room to mount an amp and speakers. We route either the piano itself into this or the pianist’s in-ear mix.

[@vegascece]

Loved it! Have always wanted to have this. Growing up with an upright and now on a keyboard, this would be great during service to hide my legs on stage (as the pedal slides away and I'm reaching for it in a not so lady like manner...lol!). Great job!

[@flamwork06]

Seeing more and more live set ups use this concept!! Love it!!

[@rejames1]

I wonder the weight difference between meeting the metal in and taking it out. This is epic!

[@jameslim6229]

I love that this was considered trash and now it’s on stage being admired by the whole church. This is just how God does it! He takes something that nobody wants, that people consider as worthless and then he cares for it, restores it and gives it new glory.

[@kanjimanjuelz7372]

Thanks, having looking to do something like this

[@nateflowers9604]

Does Jonathan have a video or anything on the piano he turned into a desk at his house? That it what I’m currently doing to my old piano.

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Once you get platform clear of all the keys and hardware it may be ready to stand and stain or pain and be ready to use as a desk. If there is not a perfectly flat surface, you may have to add wood to complete a flat surface to be able to use as a desk. Thanks for watching!

[@exoressdelivers70]

It would be nice to show the finished completed project and it being used to put it in perspective.

[@frankmangera2149]

FYI... piano players don't know what a "short piano" is. It's not an "upright" piano either - these are called SPINET pianos. The strings are vertical in both uprights and spinets, but uprights are much taller.

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Thanks 😁

[@SharonVF]

Great video! I was hoping somebody had already clarified this. Yes. A spinet is what you want! 🎹

[@BradySteinour]

I couldn't find an actual piano that fit my 88 key keyboard, so I built a piano shell! It works perfectly and it looks just like a real piano... and it's WAY lighter than a real piano. Even when they are gutted they are still very heavy! A custom built piano shell is the way to go.

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Brady Steinour very true. Thanks for watching.

[@exoressdelivers70]

Post a picture of your custom built piano shell.

[@jasoncox8442]

is your piano a Yamaha S70xs? if so, that's exactly what I will be putting in my old Lester.

[@94mac]

Jason Cox nah it’s the motif XS

[@elijahshephard4676]

Love this! Also... What is that stage design? 😍

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Elijah Shephard video coming soon!! Thanks for watching

[@allisterrenaud776]

Hey great vid...thinking of doing the same to a hammond organ. Hope it works

[@charleymiller5735]

I'm wondering about the strings you left in the piano. Since there's no longer anything there to mute them, do you have a problem with them vibrating and creating an unwanted wall of sound? (I'm a piano tuner/technician).

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

That’s a good question. It doesn’t cause any noticeable sound issues. It probably helps that our stage volume is pretty low with using IEMs. Thanks for watching.

[@GarrettWeishaar]

Awesome! I'm really wanting to do this, but I'm having issues finding an upright that is short enough so it doesn't feel like the person playing the piano is hidden behind the piano. How tall is your upright? And what's the height between where the keyboard rests and the top of the upright? It would definitely help me out! Thanks!

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

I’ll check and get back to you. Thanks for watching

[@GarrettWeishaar]

Thanks!@@WorshipLeaderHangout

[@uhoh007]

I wonder if you pulled the soundboard, and installed shelves for hardware synths......

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

That was the plan but haven’t yet. Thanks so much for watching.

[@DWYL8]

How tall is the piano?

[@aungtayzaoperainstrumental1243]

How call that ,mini upright piano?

[@Maddybreenofficial]

13:20 for the lick.

[@ericmelendez5719]

Where did you guys get that 6inch platform?

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

We made it a while back for another purpose so we just repainted and put it back in use

[@kenlapone7551]

What’s the height?

[@kpillmatic]

So glad you're using yamaha....

[@kristopherdetar4346]

It’s not gutted until the cast iron plate is removed. That would make it at least 200 pounds lighter.

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Looks cooler this way. But you’re right. It’s still pretty heavy but I don’t mind. We don’t move it a lot.

[@MimicoBungalow]

Sorry, but putting a keyboard in a gutted upright piano shell is a silly conceit. Keyboards are keyboards - not pianos. I've do lots of 'recording gigs' where they've offered me a (usually too high') gutted upright instead of using a stand. I generally refuse it. Just nuts...SO FAKE.

[@megaglowz8540]

Our church pianist has an upright at home that is a family heirloom, but it's so worn out she can no longer play it. She has said she wishes there was a way to do this kind of thing. We are going to do this and surprise her. Thank you sooo much for showing how easy this is. Great video!!

[@mrlucasroberts]

Definitely the best retrofitting piano video tutorial on KZbin! Thanks!!

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Thanks so much and thanks for watching.

[@andrewbelmore3560]

When you've searched for like an hour for the perfect tutorial and you finally find it. Thanks bro! Great content that will definitely be helpful.

[@joebovy9101]

Something that I’ve done is actually take the iron plate and strings out of the piano shell. It makes it so much lighter and easier to move around for stage design purposes. And is actually not that hard to remove. The only thing is that it takes a while to remove all the strings and pins. But after that, it’s well worth it. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the strings in the piano resonating.

[@anthonyoresteen4767]

Make sure you DETUNE the piano first! The strings are under very high tension!

[@BrianSimmons]

@@anthonyoresteen4767 Every single wrest pin has to be completely removed before the iron harp can be removed. The pins go through the harp and screw into the wood frame of the piano. So this the process of "detuning" the piano happens automatically.

[@purposeinpresence4494]

**TIP** try putting an LED par on the DMX line inside the piano for the light, a cheap one would do the trick and fill that thing with color that matches the stage lights..

[@jccolon-mendez661]

Great video. What piano brand you install in the wood piano?

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

We use it more like a stand. Our pianist usually bring their keyboard. Our house keyboard now is the Yamaha CP88. In this video we were using the Yamaha mx88

[@jlathem56]

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank you for sharing!

[@MimicoBungalow]

But, I'm also guilty as charged. Years ago, I was asked to do this for an older student of mine - who didn't want the hassle of tuning and regulating her upright piano (but she ALSO didn't want an ugly keyboard on a stand in her small condo. So, I carted her old spinet piano home and gutted it for a Yamaha P-80 keyboard with simple internal stereo amplifier and speakers in the front panel...By the way - the old P-80's are STILL wonderful 88 key hammer-action keyboards and you can find one in great shape for $300...Even for the time (2004 and newer) the sampled grand piano sounds wonderful. Be advised (as noted in the video) that the height of the front tray - even after the keys are removed is at least 4" too high so, major surgery is required to lower the front legs and remount the tray section. It can be done, as you explain in your video...

[@mkidd0021ify]

We have a old piano we were getting ready to haul off till I saw this. I'm so doing this but taking the soundboard out I'm thinking even putting a mini monitor in it for our keyboard player. We have another piano we use as some of our players prefer using them and some prefer the keyboard.

[@MimicoBungalow]

Curious - why didn't you remove the 'harp' It's not that difficult and makes the final assembly MUCH lighter.

[@nostgeoffhi-fi]

I found a tossed digital upright piano. If I chop the keyboard down to only 37 or so keys, could I wire the remaining keys to use as a portable (couchable) digital keyboard?? Or will messing with the keys affect the circuitry? I would like to salvage this thing, but also make it smaller. Thank you..

[@lastorianostra8173]

all the dust will go on the keys due to the fact that it has no cover.

[@kandinskymusic7933]

You know that the whole action can come out at once, right??

[@MimicoBungalow]

...and yes, I am a worship music leader.

[@thebryansnyder]

PLEASE TELL ME YOU STILL HAVE THE KEYS lol! I'll buy some off of you (just for a decorating piece)

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

I do. We had the same idea. Thanks for watching.

[@justinotwell6798]

I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your videos. I’m a worship leader at a church in Alabama and I really like watching for creative input in production and worship.Your doing great job man!

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Justin Otwell thank you so much and thanks for watching.

[@fishboots7902]

Do you have problems with leaving the piano strings? Does it interfere with loud music? Does it buzz

[@leepride7978]

Awesome. Simply awesome. I want to do this with a space for my laptop to sit in front down slanted with a small flat screen TV as well slanted inside. You’ve given me so many ideas!!! Thank you

[@nomad42718]

We are looking to do this as well. What was the width and other dimensions of the keyboard bed and your actual keyboard? I am worried our keyboard won't fit (width wise) inside the key bed.

[@TimothyFish]

If I were doing it, I think I'd figure out a way to use the original pedals. That, and that big heavy piece of metal would find its way to the recycle yard.

[@elliottgibby89]

Can you do this with a grand or baby grand?

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Don’t see why not. I’ve never tried though.

[@saundrabuck9626]

I have this exact piano already. Not sure if i want to gut it or find another one for my keyboard. What is the best type of paint?

[@rodneycarter9696]

I have a lester so this is helpful

[@ryanvanmatre4342]

Thanks for the video, it's really great! Maybe I missed it, but how long did it take to gut the piano?

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Ryan VanMatre thank you. It only took a half hour or so. We gutted, cleaned, sanded and painted in 2.5. Thanks for watching!

[@davidspringstead6439]

I've been waiting for a video like this! I've wanted to transition a piano into a keys rig, but there just weren't enough good in depth videos about it. Thank!

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Glad it helps. Thanks for watching!

[@matamelaflaubert2755]

😅🤣

[@mattd7650]

Hey bro, I love the new stage/background design!

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Matt Durrah thank you. Video coming soon on that as well.

[@dayyule9435]

Awesome and creative video!

[@WorshipLeaderHangout]

Dale E Thank you!