Upright piano problems, what could it be? Help.

[keestroke]

I have just received my Upright Piano thats 10 years old. But it doesn't sound right. It hasn't been tuned for a year apparently. Does anyone know what could be causing the following problems and maybe how much this may cost me to have it sounding nice and fixed.

It has a very annoying twang sound to it, specially in the middle C, octave above and below. It is not tuned to concert pitch as my electronic tuner shows the notes are about half a semitone below the actual note.

The twang has an initial attack that sounds like when you hammer a metal mallet onto those metal shoe looking things that you see in those old movies for shaping metals. It also reminds me of when a person pulls a guitar string too far and you get that twanging sound when your stretching the string too far out and you let it go.

Inside the piano the hammers look OK, even though you can easily see on the hammer felt the imprint the 3 strings that the piano hammers hit onto. Do you think my hammers are gone and old thats why its making that mettalic sound. Or the actual Piano Strings have been tuned so many times that it has stretched too far and need replacing? Will 10 years of tuning a piano cause this. How many years before you actually have to replace the piano strings?

To me it also makes me think that the strings might be rubbing against something mettalic on the metal board when you play a note or the strings are not held properly, thats why its making more of a mettalic note.

Or could it be that the piano is out of tune and the 3 strings that make up a note is not tuned properly. It just doesn't sound right and I feel I may have bougth a dud. Im worried on how much this may cost to fix to sound decent. Does this sound like a major problem?

It is way too bright for my taste and it doesn't sound warm, big. Sounds like a Rock & Roll Piano Patch on my synth. Will tuning the piano to Concert Pitch make it thinner, twangy and mettalic?

[Barrie Heaton]

Sound like it needs refacing and toning down some times the felt compacts very hard in the groves and gives a metallic sound get it tuned and ask the tuner about the tone and get them to reface the hammers

Barrie ,

[keestroke]

It could be the problem, apparently when hammer heads become hard they make a sort of "pfft" sound, is that correct?

After further analysis, I would describe the sound of the piano with the problem notes to be sounding more like a clavinet or electric piano and the problem areas sound like the notes sound seperated while the other notes that have no problems or use only one string sounds like its a complete note, if that makes any sense to you. I would say the problem mettalic twang notes sounds like when you play the piano at maximum velocity. A tech suggested it could be that the hammers are hitting the strings too hard and need to be adjusted, but i can still hear it faintly on light play.

The mettalic hammering attack of the start of the note sounds really annoying, like teeth grinding annoying. When I strike the key I feel this kind of jarring on my finger tips and a hard keybed kind of feeling like Im pressing onto solid marble. While some keys they feel cushioned.

Listening to notes sustained, it sounds like the note is slowly fading out and going out of tune as it fades into some form of eerie note kind of sustained twang and even sounds worst when you sustain chords.

If that was guitar, I would assume that the strings have been over played and stretched in all parts of the strings from pressing on the frets down the neck. Is this problem similar to what Im getting on the piano. Maybe its stretched on certain parts causing an uneven sustain?

To make matters worst and exphasize the problems, the piano is in a large, the size of 3 rooms open area room with tiled floors and glass windows and it sounds like Im playing in the bathroom.

What do you piano people think it could be and how can I fix it.

[Barrie Heaton]

Without seeing the piano it is difficult as there could be other factors if it is the hammers then refacing may solve the piano of a new set of hammers may be needed your best bet is to call in a tuner let them advise

Barrie,

[keestroke]

Should I skip the tuner and just go straight and hire a piano tech or repairer. Most tuners here dont have the abilties to repair or restore as well as tune but mainly voicing and regulations and tuning only.

The thing is, would a tuner who doesnt repair a piano know more than a piano tech who repairs a piano. People tell me to go see a tuner, but can a tuner identify exactly what the problem is or just guesstimate where abouts and what may be the cause for the repairer to investigate it further and repair it.

I wouldn't want to waste my money and hire a tuner, only for him to say you need a tech to reface the hammers. When I reface the hammers, I have to get it retuned again.

Does a piano have to be retuned again whenever the hammers are refaced or actions or mechanics readjusted?

[Barrie Heaton]

Should I skip the tuner and just go straight and hire a piano tech or repairer. Most tuners here dont have the abilties to repair or restore as well as tune but mainly voicing and regulations and tuning only.

The thing is, would a tuner who doesnt repair a piano know more than a piano tech who repairs a piano. People tell me to go see a tuner, but can a tuner identify exactly what the problem is or just guesstimate where abouts and what may be the cause for the repairer to investigate it further and repair it.

Ideally a tuner tec is the person to get, as to the tuner knowing what is the problem he/she should have a good idea. You can ask before they come if they can reface and voice or get estimates for the job

Barrie,

[Bill Kibby]

Traditionally, we are known as "tuners", but the days are long gone when there were enough people to specialise, a "tuner" has to be a technician, and some are as bad at that as they are at tuning, because as in any trade, they can advertise themselves legally as "piano tuners" when they have no qualifications. Several do here in East Anglia. It really is no use asking on a forum like this about a problem that involves one-the-spot inspection by a capable tuner-technician.