The key bushing were very worn out especially in the middle of the keyboard on this Steinway. So I carefully removed the old key bushing and installed new ones. I also replaced the key pins. The old ones were quite rough and contributing to wear. The new key pins are Anodized and are much more slippery than what is traditionally used. This translates to less friction and a better performing action.
I'm currently working on a 1978 Steinway B. It has an agricultural type touch that feels very heavy an uncontrollable to the pianist. By carefully measuring things up and through many years of experience, I was able to diagnose the problem and come up with fix. When all is done, this action will be much more friendly to the pianist. Latest Addition. Mathushek full size upright, Made in New Haven Connecticut in 1896, Ribbon mahogany case, ivory keys are nearly flawless. One of the finest built piano that cost a fortune in its day. Sadly, the harsh reality is that so many fine examples like this are being destroyed rather than being properly rebuilt and made into fine instruments once again. Why? Well, the sad reality is that it costs more to properly rebuild one of these fine instruments than to buy a brand new Chinese made piano or digital piano. However, the good news is that every once in a while, someone will have one of these pianos (that w ``usually has been passed down the generations) and will want it properly rebuilt despite the cost. The piano would be completely torn down and any wearable items such as strings (wound and unwound), hammers, action parts, key pins & bushings, pinblock, tuning pins and possibly soundboard and bridges would be replaced with new. The plate (aka harp) would be repainted gold, the soundboard would be refinished and the case would be stripped down to bare wood and refinished with approximately 20 coats of nitrocellulose lacquer. A piano technician / designer (who has spent considerable time to understand and learn about piano design) might also analyze the existing design (usually scale and soundboard) and come up with a redesign that can make a dramatic improvement musically speaking to the overall instrument. After the piano is all put back together, the piano technician will need to spend a few weeks regulating and tweaking the piano to its fullest potential. The result is an incredible instrument that outperforms any new upright piano (and many grand pianos) that money can buy. However, until cheap foreign labor finally runs out and enough of these pianos are thrown into the landfill will the pendulum swing the other way. The time is coming but the question is when?
Buyer beware --- remember, you do get what you pay for!
Get a free or cheap piano and be prepared to pay dearly for tuning and repairs. Seek professional advice before you jump into the money pit of an old worn out piano. Beware of cheap tunings - not all tunings are equal and not all piano technicians are equal. You usually get what you pay for. This advice can save you hundreds of dollars - of course if you want to stimulate the economy by making a poor choice please do. The biggest mistake that I see parents make is getting an acoustic piano for small children that is so worn out that the touch is an obstacle. Imagine trying to learn to drive on a car with a loose steering wheel and a brake that only works sometimes. The kids get frustrated and give up, blaming themselves and the parents. So a good piece of advice is to not invest in a 130-year-old piano, which was probably worn out 50 years ago.
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June 2015
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