Broadwood bass & treble tone

[kyaw han]

I have came across Broadwood serial no. 265XXX Baby grand 5'1". Crest on Iron plate and John Broadwood & Sons Co Ltd (slanted lettering) casted on the plate as well. The action is "sch....." something (sorry I cant remember well). "Broadwood" name on the fall board. It's walnut veneer with 2 pedals. Bass is not deep enough (most of them), except D2. Some notes in the bass has thin without any depth. Is it because of old bass string? Regulation is not badly needed though. Treble is also weak (C6 above) even the let off seems 2mm. Hammer condition is also good and not heavily used. My questions are:

Can I expect to get some depth in Bass if replacing string. (I don't suspect the hammer, they're in good shape and not harden too much)
Some notes (like D2) have deep bass. So can the neighbouring notes be like that (by any means) or how do I judge that this is because of scale design and nothing can be done.

Is treble could be improved by regulation + shaping hammer or hardening them?
Or are they supposed to be that soft. I do not expect much from 5'1" but at least some singing and ringing on treble.

Somewhere below the keyboard there is hollow sound on the wood and I felt the hole of panel underneath the outer wood. Is there a serious wood problem?

When I took out the fall board and see, there are few about 20 holes below side of the pin block, seems like coming through from tunning pins at the tenor section. Is it unusual?

Like to know also is it genuine UK made or made in somewhere in the world.

Sorry for too many questions but I like to learn about improving the tone if possible especially the bass.

Thank you so much in advance

[Barrie Heaton]

Can I expect to get some depth in Bass if replacing string. (I don't suspect the hammer, they're in good shape and not harden too much)
Some notes (like D2) have deep bass. So can the neighbouring notes be like that (by any means) or how do I judge that this is because of scale design and nothing can be done.

A 5.1 is never going to have a wonderful bass but changing the strings will help but is it worth it

Is treble could be improved by regulation + shaping hammer or hardening them?
Or are they supposed to be that soft. I do not expect much from 5'1" but at least some singing and ringing on treble.

regulating and voicing the hammers will improve the sound to a point

Somewhere below the keyboard there is hollow sound on the wood and I felt the hole of panel underneath the outer wood. Is there a serious wood problem?

could be the fount touch washers eaten away, it could be the keybed knocking but without seeing it hard to say

When I took out the fall board and see, there are few about 20 holes below side of the pin block, seems like coming through from tunning pins at the tenor section. Is it unusual?

Broadwoods drilled all the way on their tiny planks

Like to know also is it genuine UK made or made in somewhere in the world.

265XX will make c1971 they were only made in the UK at that time


Barrie,

[kyaw han]

Thanks for your info Barrie. Great help!!