Piano dilemma, repair or not to repair, that is the question.

[Arpangel]

Sensible? This is Tony we're talking about?

Oh dear.....

We’re 90% there in getting this chap to do the work, I’m not sure about the others, high valuations in my old and cynical mind indicate a desire to make us think that a complete restoration is a major investment, it’s probably not, and our piano isn’t "an investment"
Most piano technicians and restorers aren’t even accepting work on grand pianos, and shops aren’t buying them, most people don’t have the space, or the money these days, it’s a very small market.

Aye. Acoustic pianos as a whole are a small market to beging with, and then grands are an even smaller subset of that. I don't know, but I'd imagine there'd be especially few buyers for baby grands. I say that because the vast majority of people wanting a piano for their home will get an upright for space reasons, but professional studios and venues will get a concert grand or close to (and newer, so it's reliable).

I think Hugh's got it absolutely right. You might want to get only that part of the work done that is necessary for the piano's working and leave the cosmetics. Or just get it all done and be done with it - 3 grand is not that much in the scheme of things for something that's going to be beautiful and important to your lives on so many levels. But you'll be doing it for the joy of it, not the money.

I agree, and there is absolutely no way my partner would sell this piano, it’s too special to her, I love it too, but not in the same way as she does, it’s part of her childhood, and family.
Even if we bought a new piano she’d still keep the Bluthner.
You’re also right on essential repairs, I just called the guy and left a message, asking him if we can discuss this again, I’ll keep you posted.

[JSC]

Curious if you've been looking for parts for the action at all. I have an older Bluthner patent action and am having a devil of a time finding replacement springs.

[Arpangel]

Curious if you've been looking for parts for the action at all. I have an older Bluthner patent action and am having a devil of a time finding replacement springs.

My Bluthner is 1937, some replacement parts are Bluthner, others are good quality generic replacements.
On completion of the refurbishment I’ll post a list of what was done.

[Tomás Mulcahy]

Curious if you've been looking for parts for the action at all. I have an older Bluthner patent action and am having a devil of a time finding replacement springs.

It's common enough to have the springs made, you send the old ones off to be copied or you measure them and send in the specs. Ask your piano repair person!

[John Stafford]

Curious if you've been looking for parts for the action at all. I have an older Bluthner patent action and am having a devil of a time finding replacement springs.

The Abel Hammer Company make several parts for the Blüthner Patent action, including the abstract with the repetition springs. If you go to their online shop, look under action parts and then select Blüthner shanks. They make the entire repetitions, not just shanks, but that's how they list them.

As the patent action hasn't been made in nearly a century, supply of replacement parts can be tricky. Baumgaertel used to carry a good selection, but they closed last year.

[Arpangel]

I’m leaving all this to the guy at the workshop, he’s already picked up on things that were bodged before, wrong screws, felts etc.

[John Stafford]

My 1911 Bechstein had some kind of "restoration" inflicted on it at some time in the past. Luckily there's no major damage.

[Arpangel]

My 1911 Bechstein had some kind of "restoration" inflicted on it at some time in the past. Luckily there's no major damage.

We have no choice but to trust our local piano man, he’s been in business since before I was born, a family run outfit, with a very good reputation, he does work for a lot of professional institutions, deep knowledge of top pianos, very down to earth guy.
We had a quote from a leading Bluthner specialist, it started at £15,000, for a basic overhaul.
The value of this piano in perfect condition? it wouldn’t be worth it, even if we did have the money, we’d probably end up spending nearer ££20/25,000
I’d rather put that money towards another piano of my choice, but that’s not the point, this is a family piano with deep history, a lot of well known people in the music business have used this piano, and my partner is in love with it, it has to be kept in the family.
This business certainly puts the cost of buying a synth into perspective.

[Arpangel]

Piano update!
Just called him, he’s in the middle of putting the dampers in, all keyboard support irons turned out to be fine.....phew!
Hammers have been fitted with new felts, action completely overhauled, among other things, should be back here in a couple of weeks.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Better not spend the turntable and synth funds just yet then...

[Arpangel]

Better not spend the turntable and synth funds just yet then...

I did say to him "so how much have we got to remortgage the house for then?!"
No, it’s fine, no extra charges, all on budget, and timescale.

[Hugh Robjohns]

[RichardT]

Piano update!
Just called him, he’s in the middle of putting the dampers in, all keyboard support irons turned out to be fine.....phew!
Hammers have been fitted with new felts, action completely overhauled, among other things, should be back here in a couple of weeks.

Great news! Will it take a while to settle in? Or will it be on top form when it arrives? Is your piano guy doing the tuning and voicing?

[Martin Walker]

Great news! Will it take a while to settle in? Or will it be on top form when it arrives? Is your piano guy doing the tuning and voicing?

I suspect having it tuned on site by the piano guy that's done all this work would be by far the most sensible solution.

How exciting though!

Martin

[Arpangel]

Piano update!
Just called him, he’s in the middle of putting the dampers in, all keyboard support irons turned out to be fine.....phew!
Hammers have been fitted with new felts, action completely overhauled, among other things, should be back here in a couple of weeks.

Great news! Will it take a while to settle in? Or will it be on top form when it arrives? Is your piano guy doing the tuning and voicing?

From our conversation yesterday, it’ll be ready to play, he said the action is lighter, and feels excellent, his words were "it’s a really lovely piano now, plays beautifully"
More importantly, he’s invited us to the workshop next week, to try it out, and to make any further adjustments, if necessary, a really good idea.

[Martin Walker]

More importantly, he’s invited us to the workshop next week, to try it out, and to make any further adjustments, if necessary, a really good idea.

Wow, that's proper service for you!

How exciting.

Martin

[Folderol]

He does sound like a thoroughly nice person... as well as someone who knows what he's doing.

[Drew Stephenson]

Next post: Arpangel complaining that it sounds too perfect and he prefers the rattles and clanks from how it was before!

[Arpangel]

Next post: Arpangel complaining that it sounds too perfect and he prefers the rattles and clanks from how it was before!

Yeah!
No, the action was "bad" getting to the point where it really was difficult to deal with, as long as the tone is fine, that’s the main thing, my partner remembers this piano many years ago, she knows what it should sound like, so he should have a good idea if it’s sounding right.
She’s had a lot of friends play it over the years, professional pianists, so it’s had a good hammering, plus it was used for choral society rehearsals.

[Arpangel]

STOP PRESS!
Latest piano update, it’s arriving back at Arpangel Towers on the14th May, plus, we are just off to the workshop now, to try it out!

[Drew Stephenson]

"Piano? What piano? A Bluthner you say? Well we sold one of those just last week!"

[Folderol]

STOP PRESS!
Latest piano update, it’s arriving back at Arpangel Towers on the14th May, plus, we are just off to the workshop now, to try it out!

..... and?

[Arpangel]

STOP PRESS!
Latest piano update, it’s arriving back at Arpangel Towers on the14th May, plus, we are just off to the workshop now, to try it out!

..... and?

Sounds OK, not far from what it sounded like before, that’s what we wanted.
More importantly, the action feels like new, very positive, a bit lighter.
And, it now looks great, he’s replaced some of the felts with Bluthner Blue, very cool.
I said to my partner on the way out to the car, I should be feeling a lot more excited about this than I really am, but it’s all a bit underwhelming, she agreed, I’d be doing cartwheels about this years ago.
He’s done a fantastic job, it sounds how we wanted, it’s all as expected,

[The Red Bladder]

At last, you are spending money on something worthwhile - and not on F'ing cars!

We did a piano recital for Russian television yesterday - I am editing the thing as we speak. The pianist was all gushing about our Joanna - got it serviced and tuned on Tuesday. Look after the things and they keep their value, both as instruments and financially.

Congrats on the Bluthner BTW. I shall come and inspect it one day soon!