1969 Steinway L CBS?

[Farrell]

Wahoo, Isaac! I just wanted to say, that my past posts were not an expression of frustration at how to get these instruments to work/sound well, but rather just very simply an observation of mine as to their general condition. That's all.

Wereas I am well aware of my position on the steep slope of the learning curve, I have been able to accumulate some basic skills that allow me to make most any sloppy piano work quite better for the average Joe. In fact, I have posted before on how much I love those un-serviced-for-30-years Acrosonics and old uprights. I can do one or two of those a day and have a very happy customer and a well padded wallet!

I think I am now done with this brand X................discussion.

Tomorrow............back to soundboards!

Woops. It's Mother's Day. Guess we'll get the old barbie going! Maybe some grouper?

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Isaac OLEG SIMANOT" <oleg-i@wanadoo.fr>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 2:12 PM
Subject: RE: 1969 Steinway L CBS?


> Terry,
> 
> Now that I begin to have a somewhat bigger back of tricks than , say 20
> years ago, when I find an instrument that I feel is willing to give some
> musical quality and pleasure to the owner, I am much more accepting a lot of
> problems as lousy regulation, insufficient voicing, problems due to age or
> bad condition (extra damp or dry), etc, and I will fight (well , not too
> hard) to obtain an instrument that gives pleasure to me and the owner.
> 
> Happily, it is often a matter of a few hours, to shape a bit the hammers,
> mate to strings, check regulation fast, give back some resiliency in the
> hammers, tune, voice, and then all the remaining quality that was intended
> to be there when the piano was build begin to show.
> 
> Sometime this work have never really been done, and the piano sound almost
> as if it where new.
> 
> But I believe I know the feeling you have, it is mostly frustration of not
> being able to have an enough good result while working on supposed good
> pianos. Then you accuse the crown, down bearing, capo noise, bridge pins,
> and so on ..
> Don't take it bad, I've done the same before.
> 
> There is an only answer : learn to do the things at the best level possible.
> You will see that all is much simple after that (but it still is hard work
> sometime).
> 
> Take care ,
> 
> The best
> 
> Isaac OLEG

  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Isaac OLEG SIMANOT" <oleg-i@wanadoo.fr>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 5:10 PM
Subject: RE: 1969 Steinway L CBS?


> Wahoo Terry ! :
> 
> Hand fitted pin block will change the plate location ?
> 
> On what pianos ?
> 
> When capstan lines are to be moved this is mainly to change the leverage
> because the hammers  that one want to use are too heavy to lend to an
> acceptable Balance Weight (DW+UW /2) ?
> 
> Don't look too far. Capstan may be a little out of right line because of
> play in the machine used to guide the parts while drilled.
> 
> The angled whippen may be replaced with a vertical one too.
> 
> Rant :
> 
> It is wonderful on this forum, that is enough to write a lot about all and
> everything to became an experienced person. ( Someone with such intensive
> experience !)
> 
> I personally work in this trade for long enough to begin to understand that
> I am at last a little experienced.
> But this have come by a long road, as for anyone, and of course to make it
> short it is mostly an education question. Something that we can't find in
> books or on a forum, even if all the material is probably there yet.
> 
> And I don't believe no more in the self  training (but for tuning, and there
> we need someone to play the instrument). Learning by ourselves only is a BIG
> loss of time, even if of course we are always alone in our process of
> amelioration.
> 
> End of Rant.
> 
> Got nothing personally against you , Terry (since I've read that you almost
> burned your elector's card) , but as you show so much enthusiasm, and
> express strong general opinions , then, if I remember correctly you are just
> beginning with some luck to produce a decent work since a few, so restrain a
> bit yourself as for generalities.
> 
> I am an hypersensitive kind of guy, my primal source of information around
> me is sound, then, touch, and then only look. I am actually very grateful to
> Andre to show me how hammers are to be treated to produce a fine tone,
> eventually even on not so good instruments. This and a few important
> Principe's in regulation, have made my life very pleasing recently. Even on
> worn pianos, screwed hammers, far than ideal situation, having learn to work
> with a good procedure makes things a lot easier.
> 
> You can work for years and be happy with your work, and put the fault to the
> piano, but if you are frustrated on so many instruments, as I've been, you
> may ask yourself why.
> 
> Generally, the most frustration when in front of a new piano come from the
> precedent tech, that apply incorrect methods, sometime hurting the
> instrument more than necessary, so think about it, how do you leave these
> 'problematic pianos' ?
> 
> You are lucky in the US that there are some very high level techs and that
> they are willing to show you what they know, or part of it. The learning
> process is well probably way faster than in our traditional old fashioned
> Europe (when I was young technician, some old techs just stopped working if
> you came in their room) . So I would say that you may learn with them, and
> not loose your time believing that things are at hand.
> 
> My best
> 
> Isaac OLEG
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   -----Message d'origine-----
>   De : owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]De la part de
> Farrell
>   Envoye : samedi 11 mai 2002 19:51
>   A : pianotech@ptg.org
>   Objet : Re: 1969 Steinway L CBS?
> 
> 
>   I'm lumping 1098s and the little bit smaller consoles together.
> 
>   Some. Some. Some. "...some Steinway grand pianos exhibit (verdigris,
> Teflon action centers, poor action geometry), I have much respect for their
> grand pianos."
> 
>   My understanding is that much of that is related to the hand-fitted
> pinblock (that is also fitted to the case) that in turn CAN cause small
> variations in the plate location, and then when the action stack is
> installed, it may be located too far forward or toward the rear from
> optimal, and then of course the capstans are likewise poorly located. On
> SOME of their grand pianos. I believe that is one of the reasons why you see
> David Stanwood, et. al. sometimes moving capstan lines.
> 
>   Terry Farrell
> 
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: "Richard Brekne" <Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no>
>   To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>   Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 10:40 AM
>   Subject: Re: 1969 Steinway L CBS?
> 
> 
>   > Well, its nice to know that you are talking strictly about one model of
>   > Steinway instruments, and an upright at that. I got the feeling that the
>   > discussion carried on by others was a bit more inclusive then that. But
>   > seriously Terry. I have seen at least a hundred 1098's in my years over
>   > there, and never ran into the severe problems you talk about. Certainly
>   > not more then I see in other decently put together instruments. So all I
>   > can say is that my own experience with these instruments is quite
>   > different then yours. While I am not a particular fan of so called high
>   > end uprights to begin with, I certainly wouldnt hesitate in recommending
>   > the fine Steinway name to anyone.
>   >
>   > btw... where is it well documented that Steinway grands have "poor
>   > action geometry" ?
>   >
>   > RicB
>   >
>   SNIP
>