Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum I can play too well - and it is suspicious

Recently I bought a Stingl baby grand, which is 84 yrs old, and my technician had renewed it completely. He said that it is very suprising, but is seems that every part of the piano is original, and barely used. The pier (?) of the piano has sunk, and it had to be rised, and a completely regulation was needed, but otherwise no spareparts have to be changed except the strings and the piles.

The result became quite good. However, I feel that I can play on this piano much better than on my upright before, and it is at least suspicious to me. My scales and arpeggios are more balanced, I can play on the baby grand faster with less effort. Is it due to the lighter key weights (it is somewhat lighter than my upright was before), or it is simply a better instrument? Is there any chance that this baby grand cheats me, and somehow serves me in a way that other pianos won't?

Thanks a lot!

Count your blessings! If it feels and sounds good to you, consider yourself a winner!

A well-regulated good-quality piano can do wonders for one's technique. (I speak from experience!)

You may as well ask whether your car makes it too easy for you to get from A to B, and whether you should trade it back down to an old banger. Your piano is a musical instrument, and should make it as easy as possible for you to play the music you want to play!

They could both be quality instruments, but one is to your taste and one is not. Personal taste matters! Another musician might prefer the upright.

Hello, Loga

I am assuming that you probably mean that the strings and tuning pins were replaced in this piano. In addition, regulation work was done. You were told that the internal parts of the piano were in amazingly well-preserved condition. Great for you.

You used a term which you notated with a question mark: "pier"
Perhaps you meant to say "peak." I am wondering if you might mean that the "crown" of the piano had sunk. If so, this would mean that the crown of the sound board had collapsed and need to be raised. Is that interpretation of mine correct? I am simply trying to get a good picture of what was done.

There are tricks which sometimes work to add crown to a sound board. They involve controlled drying cycles, repairs to cracks and what some rebuilders call "kerfing the bridges." In certain situations these repairs are useful. At other times, the cast iron frame (the harp or plate) can be reset lower to help tone. This second method can improve tone if the sound board has some crown left. The strings apply more pressure to the sound board (down-bearing,) when the plate has been positioned lower - closer to the sound board.

Do you know whether that sort of work was done? Inquiring minds want to know. It is good that you are enjoying the good work done on your piano!