UK Piano Page Piano Forum

Bob Pierce

They were being made in China by the same people that make W&L, and I understand that they are currently between builders.

Bob Pierce

If you like the piano and want to keep it ask a technician to quote on replacing the flanges with wooden ones with cloth bushings. Its a quick easy job and will keep the piano going.

Bob Pierce

Ask your tuner to do this as part of your tuning/service.

Bob Pierce

Just a couple of questions; Were the hammers recovered? When you look at the hammer line is there a dip in the strike line in the area where there is a tone problem. Where the lever heels recovered or are they dished? These questions will help with an answer. The Reblitz book is not suitable for DIY...

Bob Pierce

Another option to the USA, are some of the local European colleges. There is one in Amsterdam and Germany (near Stuttgart). For the best English speaking course there is one in Canada at the University of Western Ontario. It is a tough 10 hour a day course over 12 months but Steinways NY have used s...

Bob Pierce

Yes you are. An upright should be serviced every 3 (ish) years. This will involve removing keys/action etc and cleaning. Talk about paying for this extra work with hobnobs is silly, try paying to have your car cleaned during a MOT with a bag of humbugs a see what the mechanic's reply is!!!! The tune...

Bob Pierce

Not all Petrofs are fitted with Renner actions, Some have a cheap CZECH actions fitted which are not very well made.

Bob Pierce

Leave it to a pro. DIY will end in tears and snapped hammers!

Bob Pierce

Tw*t!

Bob Pierce

They are made in China, last one I saw had a chinese action with Abel hammers. Must be changing things

Bob Pierce

Which area are you in in the country? This may help us recommend a workshop to you.

Bob Pierce

[quote="mdw"]I may be reading this wrong but have you just moved the piano and had it tuned a few day later? If so its going to go out of tune over the next few weeks. You realy need to give it a month before tuning.[/quote] Too right. Leave it for 6 weeks to settle and adjust to the humid...

Bob Pierce

Try George Dumirtiu 07802558542

Bob Pierce

Speak to Steven Brandon pianos, he may buy it.

Bob Pierce

Speak to David Fry, he is an ivory expert. 07796 293274 and is based in Kent.

Bob Pierce

John I do not understate the Japanese makes (I admit, I dislike them, from a technical point of view(too much plastic in the action), but If I had 15k to spend I simply would not buy one. With careful homework you can source a decent German made grand made within the last 10 years. The recent financ...

Bob Pierce

Excellent! Someone asks for advice on buying a European piano and everyone suggests Kawai and Yamaha. OK, so there are none made within the £15000.00 price range so lets look at other options. Within budget are 10 year old Shimmels, Sauters and Ronich grands for a start. Yes I know they are not new ...

Bob Pierce

The recommended R/H for a modern piano is 42%. I usually advise people with older instruments to keep the piano at 45% R/H. Without doubt the best way forward is to fit a PIano lifesaver system from Dampp Chaser. They do the job well. If you check their website you will see that most of the top make...

Bob Pierce

Sorry Joe but yes! There goes the market in Kawai's in the South East.

Bob Pierce

The I.M.I.T. plan to visit the Steingraber factory later on this year if any of the techs fancy the trip. I understand that the carbon fibre action people will be at the PTA convention this year if any one wants to see this great leap forward in technology!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep it wood I say, and that ...

Bob Pierce

I agree with Pianoheads, they are not a great instrument. I have seen them at Frankfurt Music fair and at the Steingraber factory and they are just dreadful.
Carbon cannot replace wood.

Bob Pierce

If its that rusty don't bother. The strings will break and damage the piano or you!

Bob Pierce

Kemble pianos of this age suffer from lifting hammer felt. Once you repair a few the next weather change will lift off a few more. You can repair with a decent glue and T-rivit the hammer but it is only a temp repair. I would replace the hammers with a new set and that is a technicians job, sorry.

Bob Pierce

I agree that some client have to work to a budget, however if you want to own a Steinway be prepared to spend a little more money when its time for restoration. There is a reason why they are expensive pianos in the first place (R&D, quality of parts used etc) I agree with Barrie, make sure the ...

Bob Pierce

Send the old rails to Renner and they will produce a replacement set to pattern.

Bob Pierce

Touch weight, should be 52 gms in the bass, 50 gms in the tenor and 48 gms in the upper treble. I disagree that just fitting a set of hammers should suffice even if they are prepared correctly. If you are replacing a worn out set which have been on the instrument for 60+ years the action will have b...

Bob Pierce

Ah, buying hammer off the shelf is not a good idea. Older Steinways have a lighter hammer and the bore dia is 5.1mm. Abel offer the most popular makes ready bored, however to save time it pays to have them bored to pattern. Recovering is in my opinion the last option. Older hammers warp under the pr...

Bob Pierce

[quote]For a slightly cheaper job that involves less labour (from your technician's side), the original hammer heads (still attached to their shanks) can be sent away to be recovered in new felt. However, it is only marginally cheaper. If you order new hammer heads, eg. from Abel in Germany (through...

Bob Pierce

£65.00 is a fair price to pay for peace of mind. But do take a decent technician with you.

Bob Pierce

[quote="marmottefarcie"]Another request for an opinion or advice for novice piano purchasers I'm afraid...... My wife and 9 year old son are both piano students and the time has come to acquire a proper piano for them to grow into. We had narrowed the shortlist to a choice between a recond...

Bob Pierce

Hi Lucia

I would try Ben Wheeler Pianos, a top dealer who knows his stuff.
Good luck

Bob Pierce

On the subject of Yamaha's, there has been a lot of work conducted by a couple of companies who have developed a hybrid Yamaha. They replace the wrest plank and restring with German wire and Barney Unwin bass strings. Then the action has the beam rails replaced and Renner shanks and hammers fitted. ...

Bob Pierce

Robert, yes it was the Phoenix. I'm serious the agraffes were so badly made you could see the file marks in them (they were manufactured in the UK). They are based on a design developed by the Broadwood company years ago, and they didn't work then. Hurstwood invest serious money in R&D at the St...

Bob Pierce

The "new" piano has a plastic (carbon fiber) action. Carbon soundboard covered in a very thin spruce veneer. I saw these at the Frankfurt Music Fair 2 years ago and thought they were dreadful. Its is very easy to be caught up in the enthusiasm of the sales force at Hurstwood Farm but talk ...

Bob Pierce

EKA are very keen to use "pure tone" wire which they purchase from Holland. It is not very good at all and rust at the hint of damp. Barney Unwin in Suffolk makes the best strings in the country without a doubt! The re-polishing price is fair. The action work sounds like a cop out. With a ...

Bob Pierce

I agree with Sussex, these systems do the job, but make sure the technician is recommended by Dampp Chaser.

Bob Pierce

No problem Dave.

Bob Pierce

Try a box of matches Dave!

Bob Pierce

Mmmmmmm, I thought Smith's sold discounted Yamahas. I would check the local Yellow pages and support a local dealer, as PG suggests no dealer on the internet will provide the same service as a local one. As for a piano, you can get a good s/h one within your budget but if you buy from a private sell...

Bob Pierce

I would look at the instruments from Music Brokers, find a local dealer and try them all. They provide the best value for money in my book.

Bob Pierce

I agree that E-bay is not good for the trade. I know of a "dealer" who buy's Sh*t from the auctions and sells it via E-bay and quite frankly it's not fit for the skip.
Discounters just cheapen the product.

Bob Pierce

Oh Chris you are talking bobbins! Dealers these days do not spend the time in setting up the instruments as it eats into the profit margin.

Bob Pierce

Well I'm Bob and can tell you all about piano numbers!!!!!!!!!!

Bob Pierce

You don't indicate which area you are in so it may be difficult to recommend a technician. I would recommend that the technician that you choose uses the slim width bass hammers from Renner and have them bored to pattern. The standard bore hammers supplied off the shelf are all at the wrong angles, ...

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