Tips for the care of your piano

Your piano is basically a machine like a car or a computer, but with the capability of allowing someone to create music. All machines need to be properly maintained or they will eventually break down.

Importance of proper maintenance

We recommend tuning at least twice a year (due to climatic changes) and regulating ever 3-10 years based on use. Pianos such as old Steinways, Mason & Hamlins and Baldwins are worth the time and money to completely rebuild and refinish as these instruments are of much richer sound than new pianos.

"Tuning" and "pitch raising" as opposed to "regulation"

"Tuning" is the turning of the tuning pins and thereby tightening of the strings, to raise or lower the pitch of the piano. When the wood of the piano shrinks or expands, the pitch will rise or drop. Therefore tuning corrects these changes. If the tuning pins of the piano are lose, the pins will shift quicker and the piano will go out of tune drastically. A "pitch raise" is when the piano has dropped in pitch significantly or when the piano has not been tuned in quite some time and has dropped in pitch from tension above. There is an extra charge beyond simple tuning for a pitch raise since it involves more work.

"Regulation" involves adjusting the many moving "action" parts (keys, hammers, etc.) inside the piano so that they work properly with each other to give you the best tune and feel possible. This procedure can sometimes take many hours to complete but is only necessary every 2-10 years, based on the piano and the amount of playing. Minor action regulation can be done more frequently for the more seasoned pianists.

If you're now wondering if your piano needs some work, contact us today!

Why rebuild?

The late 1800s to the 1960s are considered the heyday of Steinway & Sons, and in most cases, of all piano makers. Anyone who owns or has played upon a number of such instruments tends to agree. In those times (especially before the advent of television and radio) the piano was considered an extremely important part of peoples' lives. Piano makers were aware of this importance in their manufacturing of an instrument that would last for a lifetime, if not generations. And standing out above them all, in quality and design - was Steinway & Sons. Although they made a large number of instruments during these times, there were only so many, and I am observing a lesser amount available on the market for sale as the years go by. Owners seem to be appreciating what they have in an old Steinway, enjoying their gorgeous sound and holding onto them even if for just investment purposes. In the case of a family owned instrument, there is always the idea of passing them onto the next generation. Considering the cost of new Steinways and changes made in the overall construction of such in the past 50 years, these are very wise decisions. 

A number of my clients have asked me, "If the old Steinways were so good, why rebuild them?" as well as "Wouldn't that make them a 'new' Steinway?". There are a number of reasons to rebuild an old steinway. A piano is made up mostly of wood and metal, along with many moving parts. The wood tends to crack, split and warp. The metal tends to rust and tarnish. There is also the problem of varnish and lacquer becoming discolored or "checked". The soundboard is initially placed into the body of the piano with a slight curvature to it, which we refer to it in the piano business as "crown". This curvature tends to flatten out over the years and the piano loses its carrying power. The strings rust and lose tone. The moving parts, like anything mechanical, can be adjusted or "regulated". But this can be done only a number of times and then they wear out. Replacing all of these parts and refinishing the piano does not change the fundamental sounds of the instrument. In fact, rebuilding only enhances that sound. Steinway made their own metal plates for many years. When they began having them made by another company they inexplicably changed the design. This plate, or harp, is the one thing (besides the body itself) that we do not change in rebuilding this, along with the body itself, are the elements responsible for making the sound of the old Steinway what it is.

So when we rebuild your old piano, we give it a new life, we resurrect it! Many of our clients are enjoying their rebuilt Steinways now and intend to pass them on and keep them in the family for generations to come. Although it can be an expensive proposition, complete rebuilding and refinishing makes playing your piano a new and exciting experience and only enhances the value of the instrument and is therefore a worthwhile investment. 

Out With the New, In with the Old

No, this is not a typo. Here is my take on the following:

One is happy with "new" products as long as they-

1) Do what they are designed to do.

2) Do those actions efficiently and without repeated, unexpected maintenance or repair.

3) Continue to perform under rigorous use when designed to do so.

4) Make you grateful for its existence in that it makes your life easier.

5) Are made with quality materials that do not erode or decay quickly

6) Make you happy with your purchase.

There was a time where this was not only not too much to ask for, but was expected and, in my opinion, is one of the major causes of slumping economies. Money being exchanged depends upon the value of goods. If I sell you a spectacularly tasty and good looking apple with no worms, you'll come back for more - so will your friends and their friends. As long as I continue to deliver these types of apples, I'll be set for life. In reverse, the current US auto industry are based on the long-term inadequacies of the labor, design and efficiency of the automobiles.

Because of the lack of good quality "new" our current society has been leaning towards the purchase of "old" for some time now. "Pre-war", "vintage" and "antique" are some of the sought out adjectives being used in searched for homes, musical instruments and furniture. These commodities were built to last, made with quality materials and designed to function and perform. Their builders had a purpose in mind.

Therefore, "out with the new, in with the old"

Todays "Disposable" Society

Once upon a time things were "built to last". From the dwellings we reside in, to the cars we drive, to the appliances we have come to depend upon Whether it was because companies and materials were of better quality - maybe a combination of all of the above - it certainly appears that we have tended to become a "throw away and buy new" society. But is that attitude changing? Are we appreciating the better built items that still exist, recognizing that they can be rebuilt, restored or refitted? Terms such as "pre-war" and "vintage" have been use to signify a recognition that there are indeed some previously built items that are superior to today's - automobiles, stereo equipment, apartment buildings - to name a few. In the world of acoustic pianos the same can be said. At a time where new Asian and European instruments flood the American market with products that seem not to be "built to last", we also have the factor of "is it worth rebuilding?" entering the equation. There is no doubt that the premier American-made, vintage era acoustic pianos are well worth rebuilding, especially the Steinway. The key is to get the right rebuilder - a company that has been rebuilding vintage era Steinways and Mason & Hamlins and other fine grand pianos for years.