Well as I said in my post this board had a number of shims (well done!). Would this mean the board was severely damaged? I did not check the crown. I assume the factory set this right. How can I know if this was indeed factory work? The dealer is an idiot and wouldn't show me the documents even though I was the hotel's representative. He would only show them to the Hotel. His reputation is renown. You need an appointment to look at his pianos. David I. Date sent: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 23:13:08 +0100 From: Richard Brekne <richardb@c2i.net> To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: Choice Send reply to: pianotech@ptg.org > Tough call, and I suppose it has a lot to do with how well the old board > is going to hold up, what you personally think of old boards, and how > the customer is going to react to the choice between old and new. > > I have heard arguments against old wood, and havent seen anything that I > can say rules out old wood without further comment. I have also heard > some good things about old wood that seem more seductive, tho are > doubtless more...er shall we say "mystic" in character. Amoung these > are voices expounding upone the ability of wood to "mature" acoustically > over time. I have often wondered if there is something too this. Given a > reasonably good life sequence of seasons it may be that the panel > settles into a more stable, if reduced, crown and that this coupled with > the age of the wood and cell structure has some positive effect. In any > case I have not seen anything that makes me belive this is outright > hogwash. It is true that some old soundboards do sound wonderfull, and > given a decently stable environment last a very long time. > > My choice would be influenced by the type of usage and the kind of care > the hotel would be likely to provide for, in addition to a good look at > the climate stability. If these folks are willing to take really good > care of a piano.. I'd recommend the Bechstein hands down. I just love > these pianos. Wonderfully bright sound without all that duplex stuff to > potentially cloud the pictures (at least the new ones are like this). On > the other hand, if it looks like they are going to run roughride on the > instrument, go with a new M&H. They are fine pianos, and new will > definatly hold up under hard use and poor climate longer then the old > Bechstein. > > My opinion. grin > > Richard Brekne > I.C.P.T.G. N.P.T.F. > Bergen, Norway > > David ilvedson wrote: > > > List, > > > > I have a Hotel which just informed they are opening a new > > fancy restaurant. They want a ebony, high polish seven foot > > grand. I was sent to look at a Bechstein B, built at the turn of > > the century and restored in the Bechstein factory. It is > > beautiful! Those round turned legs. Here is what was done: > > New Renner action, (The tone is raw like it hasn't been voiced > > or gone over), numerous ivories replaced (well-done but the > > color match isn't so great) new pinblock, restrung, case and > > plate refinished (fabulous, like a new, hey it is new!). Here is > > the kicker though, the soundboard was shimmed and repaired, > > refinished and original bridge. Shimming work was > > immaculate. Now they can get a brand new Mason & Hamlin > > BB for same price that the dealer is asking for the Bechstein. > > My advice was to go for the BB rather than take a chance on > > a 100 year old board. Unfortunately I think the designer is > > going to really love those Bechstein legs. > > > > What do you think? > > > > David Ilvedson, RPT > > Pacifica, CA > > ilvey@jps.net > > > > David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA ilvey@jps.net
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC