Thank you for this great video. It is really nice to hear an expert talk about piano restoration for people who don't also own yachts. Most of us have to watch our pennies. Hopefully more people will have great older pianos repaired and restored. The prices of pianos and the rarified air around the subject has always frightened me off.
Thanks, Edward, I can testify that my father has a passion for great pianos regardless of brand and occasionally regardless of profit. He always attempts to educate the public with what he believe the best piano regardless of whether it is 'popular' or the 'cool thing' to say. Which is why I look up to him so much as a piano tuner myself here in the USA. Again thank you for watching. All the best, Evan Roberts
Very interesting. It takes real knowledge and skill to know exactly what to do to get such a lovely result. In some ways, to be preferred to a full restoration methinks.
So Robert I had decided to repair/recondition my upright and found I needed to replace the felts under the keys as they had been replaced randomly in the past so I had no reference for what to choose as the replacement. My question is how would you figure that out?
In such cases I lower the strings a bit till I hear a "thick" that's when the string breaks loose from the corrosion and the it is safe to raise the pitch so no lubrication needed.
I’ve got a similar piano. A feurich made in 1895. I’m located in india. It’s not played much but I guess it needs a major overhaul. I don’t play the piano. My sister used to play, but now she’s married and resides elsewhere.
Roberts Pianos: May I ask what you would recommend for lubrication at string contact points? Would a silicon spray suffice? Two strings broke at tuning pin. I'll splice it, wanting to keep the original string. I normally slacken string before tuning up. Also, how many cents is advisable to raise each time when doing a pitch raise. Piano is more than 100years old (SteinMayer #2989) so I'm worried about more strings breaking. Thank you.
Hello Ken; Silicon spray should be fine; of course make sure it doesn't get near the dampers of tuning pins. Difficult to advise beyond that without seeing the piano. If some strings have broken in the past then it's quite possible that others will break. In most cases you can pitch raise up to quite a few beats above concert without any problem.
As someone who has owned a digital piano and an acoustic piano, I can't believe that music teachers are "ok" with digital pianos. They lack so much in terms of feeling and sound artificial. I sold my Yamaha digital piano and used that money to replace the hammers in my piano. Was worth the investment, I now just need the piano regulated and perhaps have something done to the bass strings, possibly just a good cleaning will sort them out. Still saddens me that beautiful pianos are being replaced by cheap and cheerful toys. And, what I've also noticed is that many music teachers are now settling for less...so sad
Thank you for your comment which of course we agree on. I think unfortunately a lot of teachers have experienced badly maintained pianos and that's influenced them. Marcus
Thank you for this great video. It is really nice to hear an expert talk about piano restoration for people who don't also own yachts. Most of us have to watch our pennies. Hopefully more people will have great older pianos repaired and restored. The prices of pianos and the rarified air around the subject has always frightened me off.
I thought you'd reject this piano. Shows how much I know. It's wonderful to know that you're prepared to bring these old pianos back to life.
Thanks, Edward, I can testify that my father has a passion for great pianos regardless of brand and occasionally regardless of profit. He always attempts to educate the public with what he believe the best piano regardless of whether it is 'popular' or the 'cool thing' to say. Which is why I look up to him so much as a piano tuner myself here in the USA. Again thank you for watching. All the best, Evan Roberts
I so respect your passion for pianos. Very enjoyable video. Thank You.
Very interesting. It takes real knowledge and skill to know exactly what to do to get such a lovely result. In some ways, to be preferred to a full restoration methinks.
Wonderful video of a very fine piano!
Interesting that the treble frame member has been eliminated....did this model inspire Alfred knight for his open frame model?
So Robert I had decided to repair/recondition my upright and found I needed to replace the felts under the keys as they had been replaced randomly in the past so I had no reference for what to choose as the replacement. My question is how would you figure that out?
In such cases I lower the strings a bit till I hear a "thick" that's when the string breaks loose from the corrosion and the it is safe to raise the pitch so no lubrication needed.
I’ve got a similar piano. A feurich made in 1895. I’m located in india. It’s not played much but I guess it needs a major overhaul. I don’t play the piano. My sister used to play, but now she’s married and resides elsewhere.
Very interesting. Thank you
Actually sounds better than many modern expensive baby grand pianos
Roberts Pianos: May I ask what you would recommend for lubrication at string contact points? Would a silicon spray suffice? Two strings broke at tuning pin. I'll splice it, wanting to keep the original string. I normally slacken string before tuning up. Also, how many cents is advisable to raise each time when doing a pitch raise.
Piano is more than 100years old (SteinMayer #2989) so I'm worried about more strings breaking. Thank you.
Hello Ken; Silicon spray should be fine; of course make sure it doesn't get near the dampers of tuning pins. Difficult to advise beyond that without seeing the piano. If some strings have broken in the past then it's quite possible that others will break. In most cases you can pitch raise up to quite a few beats above concert without any problem.
I have a dream of one day restoring my 1906 Kingsbury Greek revival piano.
I have an old upright I need to let go of.
Any suggestions how to find someone interested it.
Twin cities Mn.
I suggest writing to a local piano dealer or tuner with photos. Marcus
As someone who has owned a digital piano and an acoustic piano, I can't believe that music teachers are "ok" with digital pianos. They lack so much in terms of feeling and sound artificial. I sold my Yamaha digital piano and used that money to replace the hammers in my piano. Was worth the investment, I now just need the piano regulated and perhaps have something done to the bass strings, possibly just a good cleaning will sort them out.
Still saddens me that beautiful pianos are being replaced by cheap and cheerful toys. And, what I've also noticed is that many music teachers are now settling for less...so sad
Thank you for your comment which of course we agree on. I think unfortunately a lot of teachers have experienced badly maintained pianos and that's influenced them. Marcus
I'm amazed the hammers were original.