Bought a Bechstein 10 - what do you think

[silvermist]

Hello everyone.

I just bought a Bechstein 10 and it was in good condition according to my tuner repairer. He is cleaning it up and 'doing the action' with felts hammers etc. Strings are clean and he suggests we tune to 1/2 a semitone below concert pitch and bring it up to pitch later - he thinks, though cannot guarantee, that the strings should be up to that.

I read that Bechsteins are good makes and a couple of web sites said that the model 10 was good/recommended even though it is straight strung but someone on this site described them as "chunky old things" and as I wait for the work to be done I have too much time to wonder if I did the right thing and your valued comments would be welcome!

[Barrie Heaton]

Bechstein 9 - 10s are noted for strings going first few notes in the base and 4 - 5 octaves the tuning pins tend to pull down after a wile if the piano has been down there a wile you may have problems

Most rebuilders put new planks in them theses days because of the tuning pin problem However, I have quite a few on my round that are up to pitch with the original plank and strings and some with new strings and original plank


Barrie,

[PianoGuy]

Bechstein 9 - 10s are noted for strings going first few notes in the base and 4 - 5 octaves the tuning pins tend to pull down after a wile if the piano has been down there a wile you may have problems

Most rebuilders put new planks in them theses days because of the tuning pin problem

Barrie,

It's mainly the bass that's the problem in a 10 due to the straight line drilling of the wrestplank along the grain, so it's fairly weak. Not as troublesome as the IV, which is a total disaster area unless it's had a new plank owing to dreadful design of wrestplank drillings in the bass and over the overstringing break.

The actions can also be troublesome because most have a long prolong attached to the heel of action and an "ankle" attaching the action to the keys. And yes, they are chunky old things, but sound well enough if in good working order.

[vernon]

Really depends on what you paid. Not too much I hope.
Sounds to me ,if it is already below pitch, that it needs a severe looking at.
Don't forget it is already 100 years old.

[Marcus Roberts]

I've tuned and sold many Bechstein 10s and like them very much. Their strings very commonly break on pitch raising, though usually only one or two in the mid to top treble.

However I discovered that lubricating the strings at the pressure bar and turning all pins down before raising them to pitch usually means that none will break at all! I see no reason why the pitch raise shouldn't be done straight away, though a tuning at the lower pitch first is a good way of playing safe.

The tuning block on model 10 is usually not a problem, unlike the older model V (5).

Of course all older pianos vary, so you're best guided by your tuner.

Marcus Roberts

[silvermist]

Thank you Barrie and PianoGuy for your expert advice and I am glad to say my repairer said the strings and wrest pins looked in good order and he had not raised the other points you mentioned so I assume they would not be an issue in this case.

Vernon, thanks for your concern - Thanks to previous advice from wonderful people on this forum about how to go about buying a piano, I paid for my repairer/tuner to check it over and he gave me a quote of works and advice before I bought it; so I didn't pay much for it because I needed my buying budget to get this piano back in to playing shape.

If I could spend thousands on an instrument or money was no object I would probably have gone for a different piano but maybe needing some tlc but on a grander scale, simply because I always have preferred old loved quality items to glossy modern and souless statements of wealth.

Marcus, I am delighted you like Bechstein 10's and I can come out from under my umbrella of anxiety now as you have more or less reiterated what my repairer has said and what I read on a few websites - I will suggest the lubrication of the strings to him if I am brave enough for him to bring it up to A440!

I don't think it is a chunky old thing personally which is all that matters really - I think its style is simply elegant and beautiful and even though it is straight strung I loved its sound. I looked over an overstrung piano the day before but it had such a strident tone I probably would have begged any wouldbe practiser/ee to stop and go and play the computer instead after only a few minutes!

My hopes for this piano is to see my children through all grades and beyond and I also have hopes to relearn as well. After a rather bad couple of weeks and as I said, too much time to question why some people dislike them, I am now feeling optimistic again. Thank you all very much!

[silvermist]

Incidentally, I meant why people dislike Bechstein 10's NOT my children!

Incidentally, can one replace individual strings or do they all need doing at once - you think you can see why I ask this question!

[Marcus Roberts]

Normally you can use the same string rather than replace it, as it breaks at the tuning pin allowing it to be unwound at the other pin (your tuner will know what I mean!). This saves a mismatch with a new string.

[PianoGuy]

Doesn't that method result in a lesser number of coils round each wrestpin? A bit messy.

If more than half a dozen strings break during a pitch raise it's a good idea to think about a total restringing. Of course that leads on to the question of "While the strings are off, do I take the frame out and replace the plank?"......

[Marcus Roberts]

That's true, there will be less coils but from my experience that doesn't matter at all. It there are, say, 4 or more that break, then it probably would be best to restring.

Marcus

[silvermist]

You guys are really tops! Thanks so much - I have a little more courage for when my repairer does the tuning now!

[Colin Nicholson]

[However I discovered that lubricating the strings at the pressure bar and turning all pins down before raising them to pitch usually means that none will break at all! Marcus Roberts[/quote]

This is an old post I just found.... 2008. Hey, someone else trusts my theory about lubricating strings!!

[Barrie Heaton]

[However I discovered that lubricating the strings at the pressure bar and turning all pins down before raising them to pitch usually means that none will break at all! Marcus Roberts

This is an old post I just found.... 2008. Hey, someone else trusts my theory about lubricating strings!![/quote]

Teflon powered is better than a wet lubricant You apply with a small brush when you drop the pitch to pull back up. very good on clicking agraphs

Barrie,

[Colin Nicholson]

Is that Teflon powder? (not sure what 'powered' is?)

Thanks for that Barrie...... there has been this long disputed conversation now for over a year!! re: tuning a Bechstein model 10 - with agraffes throughout. The customer may think about a re-string, but in the mean-time, can I get this stuff from F&N or Heckscher's ??

Colin

[Barrie Heaton]

Is that Teflon powder? (not sure what 'powered' is?)

Thanks for that Barrie...... there has been this long disputed conversation now for over a year!! re: tuning a Bechstein model 10 - with agraffes throughout. The customer may think about a re-string, but in the mean-time, can I get this stuff from F&N or Heckscher's ??

Colin

Both sell it - also, it works wonders on rollers, notches and set off pads. Gives you that Wow factor. I dip centre pins in it as well before putting the centre in.

Have been using it for about 15 years got it from the USA at first its far better than graphite as it is white for starters, will not stain if you get it on the carpet or your clothes

Barrie ,

[Johnkie]

Have been using it for about 15 years got it from the USA at first its far better than graphite as it is white for starters, will not stain if you get it on the carpet or your clothes .

Barrie


Teflon powder certainly makes big difference - I use it on rollers mostly. A word of warning though ... it should only be used with great care so as not to inhale it. I once couldn't understand why I felt so ill after using it on a set of rollers .... The puffer bottle tends to dispense it in cloud form at times, spraying tiny particles into the air. I then looked it up on the internet and found several health warnings, and ever since have made sure that I treat it with respect and use a high quality face mask.

I also use other teflon products (grease, protek, prolube, CLP) and am much more at ease with them, knowing that they're not depositing their particles into my lungs

[Barrie Heaton]

I don't use the puffer any more as teflon powder has a low atomic weight so it stays in the air a long time and its is carcinogenic if heated, cant remember the tep but it was something like the tep of a lighted cigarette so don't smoke when using it I put it on with my finger then wash my hands. Also not so good for you if you breath it in same as graphite

Like a lot of the products we use in the trade they are OK if used responsibly

Barrie,

[Colin Nicholson]

Thanks for that guys...... will order some soon & face mask!

I have some of that Protek spray - use it sometimes on centre rail pins (keyboard).

When I visited Steinway a few years ago, Ulrich (thinks that's his name?) did a session on regulation. I noticed like a white powder substance all over the rollers when he lifted all the hammers up.... I presumed it was like a french chalk! but didnt ask.... would that be that teflon powder?

Just one more qu.... can it be used like french chalk, prior to knocking in a new wrest pin?

cheers again....

[Barrie Heaton]

Just one more qu.... can it be used like french chalk, prior to knocking in a new wrest pin?

cheers again....

Too slippy for tuning pins + expensive way of doing it, the stuff is not cheep

Barrie

[NewAge]

Just one more qu.... can it be used like french chalk, prior to knocking in a new wrest pin?

cheers again....

Too slippy for tuning pins + expensive way of doing it, the stuff is not cheep
Barrie

Best kept away from caged birds then......

[Barrie Heaton]

Just one more qu.... can it be used like french chalk, prior to knocking in a new wrest pin?

cheers again....

Too slippy for tuning pins + expensive way of doing it, the stuff is not cheep
Barrie

Best kept away from caged birds then......

Well yes funny enough..... not good for Parrots it clogs up there beaks so I was told by a tuner in the US

Barrie,