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Is this possible on a 6 year old Steinway B? Just purchased it in January and while it sounded wonderful in the factory, I thought it sounded slightly out of tune in the store. I should have said something, but didn't. Once delivered, it worsened as time went on. The tech came out and tuned it, but there is still an area in the middle C octave range that makes me cringe. It's overly bright, and after I depress a key, the decay sounds like it's going out of tune. Is that possible? This is the most played area of the piano. What could this be caused by?

Not everyone who tunes does it well. Also, after 6 years, a piano should have other work done to it, including regulating and voicing.

Many times customers hear other problems and contribute it to tuning. Have the tech come out again and explain to him politely but firmly, what you hear that bothers you. Be specific to what you hear and not what you think you hear. e.g. say things like, "This note sounds off/different/louder/brighter/duller/more wobbly than the others." Avoid trying to tell the tech what the problem is. E.g. don't say, "This note is not in tune. This note needs voicing."

Thanks, Mark and BDB. My description to the tuner was that the piano sounded really out of tune, to which he said it was out of tune, but not that bad. I described some keys as "dead" sounding, notes that seemed to get louder and tinnier (is that a word? ) when played repeatedly, and a section of keys that sounded overly bright and tinny.

Seems like you're describing voicing. After a piano is brought to pitch and tuned, a piano can still sound 'out of tune' when voicing is off.

Oh, I sure hope that's what is needed, and nothing more serious. I've had a ton of misfortunate experiences in the past with prior pianos.

The factory is selling a 6 year old B ? Hmmmm. Winter weather, humidity changes, and perhaps lack of maintenance in the past probably all factor in. It can take several tunings to settle a piano in a new environment. You might want to get a referral for an experienced Steinway Technician to go over the piano. It will cost a bit, but will be worth it.

Yes, actually it was a consignment piano. Owners are upgrading. Where can I get a referral for an experienced Steinway Tech?

Just guesses but could it be?
dead" sounding- wrong hammer blow distance and hammer going to close the strings?
tinnier sounding - broken string?


New in the game, but just a guess without seeing or hearing it

Diagnosing anything without seeing the instrument is always iffy, but to have an inkling one needs to be aware of Steinway NY tone regulation protocol and awareness to the percentage of regulation shift on such a new instrument. Unless the piano has been subjected to significant wear the likelihood of regulation (particularly blow distance) being so far off as to present tonal issues isn't that likely. A short blow distance would also have other manifested regulation problems.

Also, while some degree of wear must be presumed with voicing issues in the middle, a broken string isn't likely to make a brighter sound. Usually, in the case of a broken outside string, the tone will be more subdued with the hammer striking a little off square. A 6 year old Steinway shouldn't be getting sold with missing strings. However a newly replaced string still stabilizing might give that illusion. At anyrate the OP didn't mention strings being replaced.

My hunch is that the final prep and voicing (and/or maintenance voicing) did not take place and the piano was broken in by a more novice pianist who didn't go too much beyond the middle of the piano. Steinway NY hammers take a bit of effort to get a reasonable tone out of and maintain. Factory prevoicing with only initial hammer hardening and a beginning pianist would put this instrument in just the tonal state described... a thin sounding middle with notes getting brighter as played repeatedly, and dead or thuddy sounding notes other places. Suzuki students can cause havoc to the voicing.

With that said, I think BDB has nailed it... time for fine regulation and voicing.

Thanks SM. There was no prep done other than some cabinet refinishing due to water damage (spilled drink on lid). I have no idea what work was done per the original owners.

Can anyone tell me how to find an experienced Steinway piano tech? In addition to the piano still sounding out of tune in some areas, dead in others, now a key is continuing to sound (A2) for about 30 seconds after playing it.

Call your selling dealer. They will have names. If a key is sounding for 30 seconds then you have a sticking damper. Since that happened since delivery that could mean that your home is rising in humidity causing sticking or it could mean that dryness could cause a damper to not seat right causing almost the same thing.

This winter has been particularly rough on pianos all over the east coast with the subzero temps causing acute dryness in many homes unless you have very good control of the humidity. Now with spring coming and so much rain the humidity will cause changes in the pitch as well as sticking keys and dampers. You just need to have someone come and go over the tuning and regulation.

Prior to the tech visit it would be helpful if you get a hygrometer and take some readings to see where you are in your home. You should be keeping the piano somewhere around 45% year round in order to avoid radical tuning and action changes. A hygrometer is only about $30.

All pianos will change in tuning as soon as they acclimate to the new atmosphere in your home. That is to be expected, even if the piano is not brand new. That usually takes about 3-6 weeks so the timing on your piano going out of tune is in keeping with that.

Thank you, Sally. It just so happens that it was raining all day yesterday when the culprit key was sticking. I purchased a humidity reader at Lowe's and except for 2 days since the piano's delivery, the range has stayed within the normal range. Not sure if this is the best instrument to check humidity or not. I paid $10 for it.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...elshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1