Five Pianos turned into Guitars - Part 1

We have been getting quite the stockpile of donated non-playable pianos. In this video we start the dismantling of five recently donated pianos, and start harvesting guitar wood from the soundboards.

[@tristannaylor5197]

hey there, i know this says 5 years old on the video but you wouldnt happen to have keys for sale would you?

[@laynelucia5111]

You still building guitars out of pianos? I have a knabe. 1800s baby grand that I'm thinking about having this done with.

[@garnerpeterson]

Yes we are! Just haven’t been making videos lately…it takes so much time to make the videos!

[@Halliday7895]

sept 29 , its meant to be....if only i watched this a few days later i could have viewed it on the 29th! haha

[@blessedwithchallenges9917]

Please show me the guitars - and close ups of the soundboards completed! I'm trying this myself at home and so excited about the potential!

[@garnerpeterson]

Hey Shaun, a couple finished guitars are featured in a couple other videos on the channel. When I get a free minute I’ll email you some close up pics. We have sold several finished guitars with “piano” tops. Have 4 more in production right now.

[@leanneronaldsanglay6066]

Are you selling those guitars?

[@garnerpeterson]

Yes. We sell these guitars. The ones featured in the videos have been sold or were custom builds for customers but we usually have a few completed guitars for sale and can do custom orders as well.

[@andrewmundenandcadfellmast4624]

Love this, such a great idea. Apart from the soundboards, what other parts are salvageable, and what can they be used for??

[@garnerpeterson]

Thanks for the question! We use the spruce soundboard bracing to cut up into guitar bracing, we use the hardwood upright braces on the pianos themselves for guitar necks and tail blocks (often ash, mahogany or other hardwoods), we have also used the cabinet box parts for laminated sides and backs.

[@andrewmundenandcadfellmast4624]

@@garnerpeterson thanks for that, i hadnt thought ofusing the bracing for necks. Good idea!

[@tristannaylor5197]

​@@garnerpetersonwouldnt happen to have any piano keys for sale would ya?

[@sunnyray7819]

how old does the piano need to be? I take it newer ones have plywood mostly?

[@garnerpeterson]

Age doesn’t really matter although we only take apart pianos in really bad shape. Almost all pianos have solid spruce sound boards no matter the age. I think only one of the many pianos we have disassembled has had a laminated sound board. The older ones are more likely to have desirable woods also in the heavy bracing or other cabinet parts.

[@sunnyray7819]

@@garnerpeterson Cool, good to know, I appreciate it!