whats this? an 89 note grand piano??

sussexpianos · Post by **sussexpianos** » 07 Sep 2006, 18:02

Im restoring an old German grand and it has 88 keys but 89 sets of strings. Why would a maker put an extra 3 strings at the end of the treble ? There is no lever or hammer for these strings.
Has anyone come across this before? very odd.

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 07 Sep 2006, 20:03

Seen it, but can offer no explanation other than they were either careless or tripping.

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 07 Sep 2006, 21:34

There has been a few makes with the extra note at the top I have seen an 88 with the extra one, the reason behind it was to improve the last note in the top treble you tune the string as a unison to the top A or C which ever the top note is and it sings in sympathetic vibration so enhancing the top note bit like a Bluthner

Barrie,

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 08 Sep 2006, 07:43

makes perfect sense!

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 08 Sep 2006, 17:57

I tuned an upright piano once with 88 keys and 94 notes inside. I was just about to go home and check the medication when I found the lever that meant it was a transposing piano!

sussexpianos · Post by **sussexpianos** » 09 Sep 2006, 08:23

never come across one of those. did it work?

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 09 Sep 2006, 17:39

It did...the client had't got a clue that it was a transposing piano. It was German, sort of 1890s ish. Very useful when you're accompanying a soprano who can't quite get the top A's any more (I speak from experience)!

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 10 Sep 2006, 15:01

Only ever seen overdamper transposing pianos

Barrie,

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 10 Sep 2006, 17:08

I can only remember that it was a black German gothic horror type thing...but definitely an underdamper.

tuna · Post by **tuna** » 12 Sep 2006, 23:36

I could be imagining things, but I could swear I tune a grand piano with 89 sets of strings. It also has 89 keys. I think it may be swiss, but I haven't tuned it for a while, think the old dear may be pushing up daffodils at this stage.