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Big Bird

So there is your answer...the U1 is too expensive.

As for your girlfriend complaining about the noise....as long as the neighbours are not complaining about your girlfriend.

Game on!

Big Bird

I believe that the little brass bits that the strings run through just before the tuning pins are called agraphs? Is there a special tool that removes them as I have removed 2 using a pair of pliers that seem to eat into the top edges? I can't find any other tool in my kit that will work as they are...

Big Bird

I don't know if it available over in the UK, but over here there are guys offering a mobile service that instead of using sand uses baking soda. It is used mainly for removing paint from old cars, but baking soda is a flake type material that disintegrates on impact and is therefore not nearly as ha...

Big Bird

G'day all, Been a while since I have been here and I pologise if any of you have felt neglected and simply used as a recourse when needed. But lets get over that and move on..LOL I have removed almost all of the tuning pins in my early to mid 1870's Gustav Hagspiel 5'10" grand, but 8 of them ar...

Big Bird

Mate....Just go for it! Most on this forum reckon I am as made as a cut snake, but I am still plodding along with my 50 cent piano, having fun and learning heaps. Do not let the experts convince you to only look at it in terms of dollar (or in your case Pound) value of the finished item. Put a value...

Big Bird

Probably, but I am not sure if it is worth spending the money.

If I am not going to go to the expense of re-veneering, I am cirtainly not going to have legs made.

Big Bird

After much debating and deliberation I have moved the case into my garage and believe I have found a solution to the wobbly leg issue. I haven't posted any photoes yet, so not much point in looking at the website. Each leg is secured with a cast iron M & F fitting that probably over the years ha...

Big Bird

Thankyou for that insight Otto, and proving my point. With modern materials there is no reson why a polymer case would not be able to perform the same way as a timber one, or at least within the parameters of human hearing. My other point is that the inside of a piano is not a harsh environment, and...

Big Bird

Dear Lovers of wood timber and Lumber, There have been some amazing advances in polymer technology simce the 1980's. Are you guys trying to tell me that in this day and age when we can break the sound barrier, split the atom and travel to the moon and back that we cannot find a better material than ...

Big Bird

I simply started this thread to promote the healthy discussion of such an issue. I think that yelling "wood is better" louder than anyone else does not make your statement or point f view the right one. Before I go any further...I am not a concert pianist, and am maybe therefore lacking in...

Big Bird

I am posting this as a new thread as I did not want to sabotage the Bosendorfer thread getting so much attention If we are discussing alternative materials, why would we not these days consider plastic cases. With the materials now available and the pressing technology a case could be made out of a ...

Big Bird

I think I have just learned something....

1) Donald Trump restores pianos in England and ...

2) Is a member of this forum.

Big Bird

And to Piano Guy, Oh yeh baby!!! Now I understand that this forum is based in the UK and therefore most of its members would be rather sensible and have a decorating penchant that coud best be described as tastefully understated. Those of us here are probably not as rampantly subjected to the tastel...

Big Bird

I am sure I could find more than five people with lots of money and bad taste.

Just not all of them would own a piano.

Big Bird

I am seriously considering the Volvo metallic dark blue, with a courser metalflake.

But I may just go with the corvette yellow.

Long way to go before I am committed.....to a colour that is.

Big Bird

That is why I am not going to reveneer it.

I am going to paint it 2-pak like I would a car.

What I was really asking about was the transfer.

Cheers
HARRY

Big Bird

Could you elaborate a little, less?

LOL

Big Bird

G'day Guys, As most of you are now aware my piano is a bit of a mongrel. Too old to be worth all that much, Got the wrong legs on it, a fair few chips and nicks in the good old veneer. I am considering heading down one of two paths. 1: Reveneer the entire piano and laquer accordingly or 2: Choose a ...

Big Bird

Don't the felts under the hammers do that?

Big Bird

Further to my last post?

What is the point of those metal bits sticking up through the hammer shanks? and....

And I am in agreement with you about the model T, although I could see myself in something a bit more modern, like a '53 Buick.

Viva le difference!!!!!!!

Big Bird

Yeh mate,

I feel your frustration.

Got a Hagspiel too and no idea of where it came from.

Big Bird

Point conceded.

And yes a Yamaha would make sense.....if I actually played the piano.

Big Bird

If they are such nice pianos, why did the company dissappear?

Why can I find no information on them? and

Why are the surviving ones worth so little?

Big Bird

It wouldn't surprise me if you guys tell me it's good for fire wood and it looks like all the others on ebay that are lucky to make 100 bucks. It is a Karl Voss upright and the label says it has the special Leipsig scale (whatever that means). I don't know where it was made, but if someone can give ...

Big Bird

An Old Blanket or three placed over the strings would be alot cheaper than any sort of digital refit.

The other thing that would cost you nothing would be to say...."to hell with the neighbours!!!" and enjoy yourself.

Big Bird

Thanks for the link Sussex very inspirational.

Is that a Gustav Hagspiel Piano?

Big Bird

Thanks for that. now that you point it out it does make sense regarding the tension. Now as far as the Hagspiel goes, why do you dislike them so much? For me it was a matter of it being the only cheap baby grand available that day. It's not like a turned down a Steinwey or a Bluther. How it happened...

Big Bird

I think I have enough cars at the moment, keeping in mind that there is another FB I am still yet to take any photoes of and the cars the leader of the opposition and myself use for daily transport. Anyway, prior to us purchasing this piano I knew full well that it was going to be a challenge for so...

Big Bird

Another question then based on the Hof-Lieferant meaning "By appointment" or "Official Supplier to...)

The Label on the inside of the keyboard cover has on it:

Gustav Hagspiel
Hof Lieferant
Dresden

Would this mean that all Gustav Hagspiel pianos were made to order?

Big Bird

All the shims should take up is the gap between the top of the leg and the capital that allows for this movement. The threads will then be under geater friction forming a better join. Anyway...it will be a couple of weeks before I am able to test the theory as I am working on other things at the mom...

Big Bird

I reckon if I could get hold of 1 I could cobble up 3. Being in Australia and as many have told me working with a piano that is already worthless, the chances of me sending bits off to the UK are non-existent. The other issue is that we (The leader of the opposition and myself) seem to prefer the sq...

Big Bird

I have labeled them all

Big Bird

You seem to be somewhat of an expert on these pianos. Would you be able to provide some pics, or at least links to so I can get a better idea of what I am trying to achieve here. You describe the action perfectly, please keep in mind I have simply taken this on as a project just for something to do....

Big Bird

My myspace page has photoes of all of the markings I have been able to find, and even though the piano is stamped with number 980 all of the pencil signiatures inside the piano are accompaned by the number 955. and the frame is simply marked with a 55 on the back.

Big Bird

Wow, where do I begin. You reply as though you have some experience with this maker, and therefore any insight will be greatly appreciated. The frame has gone to not only an expert foundry and welder but the bloke handling the project is also a classically trained pianist. If it means making new leg...

Big Bird

I am currently undertaking the restoration of a baby grand piano that probably should have been thrown out. Anyway, I am not a piano technitian, I don't play the piano, I simply seem to bite off more than I can chew. Suffice it to say, I have stripped the entire instrument down to a bare case sittin...

Big Bird

G'day all, My name is Harry and I am in Melbourne, Australia. Although I am not a piano Technitian, nor a piano player I recently purchased a Gustav Hagspiel baby Grand that I am slowly restoring. It is about this time that experts start to tell me I am mental, but this is something I can live with....

Big Bird

Hi there, I am not sure of the protocols here but this is my first post. The reason for posting here is that I have recently purchased a Gustav Hagspiel burl Walnut 5' 10" baby Grand piano. It is rather sad at the moment, but I am currently restoring it. I have been able to translate some of th...

UK Piano Page Piano Forum

Search found 38 matches

Agraphs????

Pesky Pins

Alternative materials, Bosendorfer & Heracy?

Walnut, Transfers and other stuff

Karl Voss

No loose stools just wobbly legs

New to forum and needing as much help as I can get