Moving a player piano or pianola: extra considerations for the crew

A player piano or pianola moves on the same skid board and fitted transit covers as a standard upright, but the player mechanism inside the cabinet changes three things: the weight, the weight distribution and the number of fragile components the crew needs to be aware of before they arrive. Those differences are not a reason to avoid moving a player piano, but they are a reason to describe the instrument accurately when you book. Get an instant quote at book.pianospeed.com or call 020 7164 0000.

How much heavier a player piano is compared to a standard upright

A player upright is typically significantly heavier than the same instrument without the player mechanism. The suction pump, the pneumatic stack, the tracker bar and the spool box housing the piano rolls all add weight that is not in the musical parts of the instrument. Much of this weight sits low in the cabinet, in the pump and bellows assembly beneath the keyboard.

The practical result is that a job requiring two crew members for a standard upright may need three for a player piano on the same access. The extra weight also changes the stair calculation: if the move involves stairs, the crew needs to know this is a player piano rather than a standard instrument before they arrive, not on the day. Describe the type of piano on the booking form at book.pianospeed.com so the team can plan the job correctly.

Foot-pumped, electric and MIDI-converted player pianos

Player pianos divide into three types by how they generate suction to play back rolls.

Foot-pumped player pianos, the original pianola design from the early twentieth century, use two large pedals below the keyboard. The pump bellows are driven by the performer's feet. These instruments rely on a pneumatic stack made from leather and rubber components, many of which are now close to a century old. The rubber tubes and leather pouches in older instruments can be brittle and fragile, and the crew takes care not to knock the access panel or apply lateral pressure to the cabinet sides during the move.

Electric player pianos replaced the foot pump with a motor, usually housed in the lower cabinet alongside the pump. These instruments are less demanding to handle than the oldest pneumatic examples but still heavier than a standard upright. The crew confirms the instrument is switched off before moving and does not reconnect power at the destination.

MIDI-converted player pianos use a retrofit electronic system, such as a PianoDisc, QRS Pianomation or similar kit, fitted to an existing acoustic piano. These systems add a power supply and a data connection point, sometimes visible at the rear of the instrument or behind a small panel. The owner should disconnect the power supply and any external data cables before the crew arrives.

Piano rolls: remove them before the move

Piano rolls should be removed from the spool box before the instrument moves. A loaded spool box adds weight above the centre of the instrument, which changes the balance when the piano is on the skid board. More practically, a loose roll can shift in transit and put lateral pressure on the tracker bar, a precision guide that can be distorted if rolls are left unsecured inside.

Store rolls in their original tubes or boxes if you still have them, or wrap them individually in tissue paper and pack them in a padded box. They travel in the removal vehicle with the instrument but not inside it.

Access and doorway considerations for a player piano

A player piano cabinet is often slightly wider than a standard upright because of the spool box housing and the knee lever panels on either side of the keyslip. The depth from front to back is usually similar to a standard upright, but the extra width can make access through a narrow doorframe or along a tight hallway more demanding.

Measure the doorframe width and the hallway width at the narrowest point before booking. The crew can assess access from the information you provide on the booking form. If the access is tight, it is far better to establish this before the day than to find out when the instrument is halfway down a staircase. The booking form at book.pianospeed.com asks for the floor level and lift availability at both ends and includes any stair charge in the fixed price you see before confirming.

Stairs are chargeable for a player piano as they are for any piano. A player piano is heavier than a standard upright, so the access assessment matters more rather than less. Describe the flight count, the width and whether there is a half-landing.

At the destination: settling, tuning and the player mechanism

A player piano needs the same two to four week settling period as any acoustic piano before tuning. If the mechanism is pneumatic, the player action may also benefit from a check by a piano technician who works on player mechanisms after the move, since changes in temperature and humidity can affect the leather and rubber components over the first few weeks in a new space.

For a MIDI-converted instrument, reconnect the power supply and data cables only after the piano has settled and been tuned. Some systems require a recalibration after a move, which the supplier can explain over the phone or by visiting.

If the player mechanism was working correctly before the move but does not work at the destination, the most common cause is a loose vacuum line connection at the motor, not physical damage from the move itself. A piano technician or player piano specialist can check this during the post-move service visit.

Common questions about moving a player piano

Is a player piano harder to move than a standard upright?

It is heavier and there are more fragile components to plan around, but a specialist crew that knows it is a player piano can prepare the job correctly. The key is to say so when you book rather than describing it as a standard upright. The crew needs to bring the right number of people and be aware of the mechanism before they arrive.

Can a general removals firm move a player piano?

A general removals firm will treat a player piano as a heavy piece of furniture. The pneumatic mechanism, the tracker bar and the bellows are not furniture, and the way the instrument is handled on and off the vehicle matters. A specialist piano mover is the right choice for any player piano, but particularly for older pneumatic instruments where the components are fragile.

Can the player mechanism be damaged during a move?

If the instrument is moved correctly, no. The risk comes from rough handling: using the cabinet panels as handholds, applying pressure to the front, or failing to secure the instrument in the vehicle. A specialist crew loads the piano on a padded skid board and secures it with straps. A well-handled player piano arrives in the same playing condition it left.

What should I disconnect before the crew arrives?

For an electric player piano: switch it off and unplug it from the mains. For a MIDI-converted instrument: disconnect the power supply and any data or audio cables. For a foot-pumped instrument: no disconnection is needed, but check that the access panel on the lower cabinet is fastened before the crew arrives.

Are stairs chargeable for a player piano?

Yes, stairs are chargeable. Because a player piano is heavier than a standard upright, the crew needs accurate access information before the day. The booking form at book.pianospeed.com includes the stair charge in the fixed price once you describe the floor level at each address.

Does a player piano need tuning after a move?

Yes. Every piano, including one with a player mechanism, needs tuning after a move. Allow two to four weeks for the instrument to settle at its new location before calling a tuner. If the player mechanism was in regular use before the move, ask the tuner to check the player action at the same visit.

Book a specialist crew for your player piano

Piano moves start from £125. For a fixed price covering your specific instrument and the access at both addresses, get an instant online quote at book.pianospeed.com. You can also call 020 7164 0000. PianoSpeed London Limited, 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ. Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 77 reviews.