Schimmel School Piano - a major problem!

Openwood · Post by **Openwood** » 08 Feb 2007, 22:38

I mentioned in an earlier thread that I was thinking of getting a Schimmel studio piano for school and I nearly did until today, when I noticed that it doesn't have a celeste pedal (if you haven't come across one before it's a middle pedal which brings material (felt?) in front of the strings and reduces the volume considerably). It's invaluable on a school instrument because a student can use the piano with the celeste pedal down and other things can go on in the same room quite happily. I can't imagine not having one.

It simply never occured to me that a piano designed specially for schools would not have a celeste pedal - it's more useful than all those locks, bumpers and slow-closing fallboards put together and they ought to sort it out. Now!

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 08 Feb 2007, 22:43

They can be retro-fitted for about 300 quid all-in. Works on a lever rather than a pedal.

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 09 Feb 2007, 09:52

A silent system with MIDI would be more useful, they also can be retro fitted. However, since Schimmel use the Yamaha system I would look at the cost of a factory fitted one at Schimmel, less moving parts so more hard wearing than a retro fitted one

Barrie,

Openwood · Post by **Openwood** » 09 Feb 2007, 12:08

Yes, I think I will actually end up going for one of the Yamaha silent series uprights. I'm not keen on getting extras fitted to the Schimmel because I think it costs plenty enough cash as it is and a celeste pedal should be a standard feature for any school instrument (I'm turning into a right old Colonel Bufton-Tufton in my old age).

I do like the expression 'retro-fitting' though; I'm imagining a celeste rail made from a kaftan and detachable flares for the piano legs. I'm diggin' it, baby, yeah!

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 09 Feb 2007, 13:09

Traditionally they have not been fitted – the ones you do find on school pianos are modified domestic pianos. Normally if you are in a school practise room you don’t have to worry about the neighbours you tend to want to drown them out.

Barrie,

Openwood · Post by **Openwood** » 09 Feb 2007, 16:07

How strange - I'd never think of buying one for school that didn't have that option. Oh well.

Still, the Yamaha silent series sounds like a good option - what happens when you want to play duets in silent mode? I guess you could use a headphone splitter box to use two sets of headphones simultaneously?

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 09 Feb 2007, 18:07

The new ones have 2 outputs I will look on Monday To make sure

Barrie,

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 09 Feb 2007, 20:36

Hey Openwood / Barrie!

They all have 2 phone outputs.

Even the cheapskate no-MIDI b1 and b2.

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 08 Apr 2007, 22:00

Sounds to me like:

1) Your poultry is overfed.
2) Someone has attempted to drown your cats
3) Your piano needs voicing.

You've come to the right forum for the last point, but try Bernard Matthews for the first, and the RSPCA for the second.