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It's the same as my piano! I looked around half-heartedly at new pianos a couple of years ago but couldn't find anything in my price range I really liked so got mine rebuilt, and I'm really happy with it.And hope you are too! I've a few weeks to wait before delivery, but yes I'm very pleased! Like ...

Note to Colin and Barrie: Again thanks for all the advice above. As it happens, I tried the second restored Bluthner this weekend and it played wonderfully. It had a lighter touch than I expected (and much more than the other "clunker") yet was hugely responsive, lively and easy to control...

Colin, Barrie: Many thanks for your responses. Colin: Yes, I like the key-dip test. The Bluthner I tried was well short of 10mm (to judge by feel) and had I the presence of mind to measure the touch weight I'm sure it would have been close to 100g. I'm hopeful the second one I see will be properly r...

Thanks Colin (again!): you have given me some hope. :) The two pianos are virtually identical (a 1929 and 1932 restored Bluthner Model A) but have been handled differently. The one I trialled last weekend was bought by the dealer and then shipped out to SAP Renovations in Poland for a thorough (and ...

Thanks Barrie. The example I played had an all new action (including hammers) and the dealer said he had had it regulated the week before. But it felt awful. Shallow key depth, heavy touch all the way down, no 'springiness' in the return, no discernible difference in weight with the sustain pedal de...

I was wondering if anyone with knowledge and experience of an old Bluthner upright could say something about its action and touch? I have already tried a freshly restored 1929 Model A and found it to be like playing a piano whose keys were made of stone. I will be trying another restored (1932) Mode...

Thanks Colin. Your detailed advice has been very much appreciated.

LL

Thanks Joseph and Vernon. Joseph: I was originally in the market for a new piano, but accidentally veered down the "vintage" route after having being impressed with a restored (but over-priced) Bluthner. I am probably going to revert back to the new piano market again as it would seem from...

Hi Colin, I eventually saw the piano and it is a Model V (=10) from 1900. Straight strung with the odd action mechanism of the Model 10/V that you mentioned and absolutely dog rough throughout. The poor owner who paid for the restoration is now irate. Somebody told her a few years back that is was w...

Hi Colin, Many thanks for such a fantastically comprehensive, detailed and informative response! I feel like I should be posting you a cheque for your services! I have obtained some photos of the piano, which can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/80055622@N08/?savedsettings=7346754016#pho...

I have a quick question regarding that old chestnut of the "value"/"price" of a piano, in this case a 1906 Bechstein Model 8 I will be viewing in the next couple of days. Here is what I know: 1. The piano belonged to a local Church when it was bought (probably for a song) by the ...