NEW HAMMERS, ETC. AS TO SOUND

MA. CECILIA M. DE MESA · Post by **MA. CECILIA M. DE MESA** » 03 Jul 2008, 01:51

dear piano techs/tuners/makers..... i have an old zeitter & winkelmann upright piano and it was overhauled about 3 weeks ago.. it was not yet delivered in my house because i want to see to it that the sound is good so i went to my piano maker yesterday to see the development. i was not satisfied with the sound it produces unlike when i purchased that piano 5 months ago.. maybe they replaced the hammers and the other parts that need to be replaced... but the strings were not replaced... my question is... what is the effect of the new hammers as to the sound of my piano? is there a big difference in sound? maybe the springs were replaced too because there is a slight weight in the piano keys' action.... i want the sound of my piano before but it really needs to be overhauled because many parts were "torn" and broken...(i should say)..... hope you can shed light to this matter... thank you very much. sorry if i can't elaborate well, just hope you understand what i am saying... thanks a lot.

David B · Post by **David B** » 03 Jul 2008, 08:51

Morning Ma,

I must say, I am getting a little confused. You have said several times that you have a Kawai K20, and that your friend had this zeitter & winkelmann. How many pianos have you got now?

MA. CECILIA M. DE MESA · Post by **MA. CECILIA M. DE MESA** » 03 Jul 2008, 08:56

the zeitter & winkelmann was pawned to me... that is why....
i need answers..... thanks...

David B · Post by **David B** » 03 Jul 2008, 09:14

You run a pawn shop?

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 03 Jul 2008, 15:41

The sound is produced by the hammer hitting the string, which is amplified by the soundboard (very roughly speaking). Change any of these, you change the sound. Before you had it restored the hammers were probably old and deeply lined; new hammers will be smooth, and the sound clearer. New strings will have no rust - same result.
If your restorer can tone the new hammers to bring them down a little, you might prefer that. Don't ask us; speak to your restorer - he's the man who knows!

MA. CECILIA M. DE MESA · Post by **MA. CECILIA M. DE MESA** » 04 Jul 2008, 01:12

just talked to the piano maker last night... he told me that the strings were removed, "stretched" and brought back again because the sound board was repaired etc... so does the stretching of the strings really affect the sound? if it is so... then how long will i wait to restore the sound i wanted?

tuna · Post by **tuna** » 04 Jul 2008, 01:23

Stretched?! Are you sure about that one? It sounds like an unusual technique.

By the way, was that a pawn or porn shop?

MA. CECILIA M. DE MESA · Post by **MA. CECILIA M. DE MESA** » 04 Jul 2008, 03:02

that's what he told me... since the piano was overhauled and major repairs were done, the strings were removed and brought back again... but the strings were not replaced..... still the old strings were used... how much is the effect of that as to the piano sound?

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 04 Jul 2008, 08:02

Depends on the age of the strings but you would not stretch old strings you may twist the bass string to improve them

Bad use of a string wheel on the steels can scratch them

Barrie,

Post by **vernon** » 07 Jul 2008, 22:29

didn't you get an estimate of the work that was to be done and any indication as to the likely result?

wilhorwood · Post by **wilhorwood** » 25 Apr 2023, 20:43

Do you still have this piano? I am currently researching Z&W pianos because I am descended from the family that owned the company and want to be able to tell my kids about it. Do you have any photos of your piano and serial number?

UK Piano Page Piano Forum