I need some advice

[Stéphane Collin]

Hello Brian

You rise a very interesting problem, at least to my eyes.
When you are in front of an old (magical, charming, touch-feel-sound-perfect, or anything you want) good piano, can you expect that a restoration will make it even better ?
In my experience (which is one of a hobbyist), I would say : careful ! The magic of an instrument is very fragile and easy to destroy, while so long to obtain.  I heard so many tales of people falling in love with an old instrument, having it restored and not recognizing it anymore when the work is (properly) done.  You said very well, most of the perfectly restored old pianos sound, well, just like any other restored piano : very common.  (Not all, of course, but many).  I am asking this to the more experienced people of the list : is this the evidence that time is an important factor in making the very sound of any piano ?
Anyway, still in my experience, if you touch to the acoustic body, change the hammers, replace strings and check the crown of the soundboard, say goodbye to the magic sound you heard.

Fire jacket just zipped.

Stéphane Collin
(Brussels, Belgium)
 



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "brixu" <brixu@free.fr>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 9:50 AM
Subject: I need some advice 


| Hello
| I am but a musician and although I try to follow most of your discussions, I
| am very often lost in all the wonderful technical expertise being shared.
| My question is of a more personal nature and I hope not to infringe the
| list's permitted topics.
| I have a 1917 Bechstein B model which will be needing its first overhaul
| since it was manufactured. This will concern mainly the hammers, the damper
| felts and the strings, for the rest seems to be in a pretty good condition
| according to my local piano technician. I would really like any changes to
| be as faithful as possible to the original product, for the simple reason
| that even as it is, this is one of the pianos I have enjoyed playing most.
| It seems to fit me best. My local tuner seems to be very hesitant about
| this. I understand that for him, a piano is a piano and you can get the same
| good result on "any" piano. I would not discuus his know-how whch I am sure
| is technically far superior to mine, but I have so often played on
| excellently restored old Bechsteins which do not have the same
| finger-ear-tone relationship that I find on mine. They actually sound and
| feel like any other well-restored more recent piano (not that this is a bad
| thing, of course, but I do want the Bechstein to retain its character).
| Is this "faithful" overhaul possible at all?
| 
| Thank you
| 
| brian schembri
| 
| 
| p.s. Does anyone know who in France (Paris region) would be likely to do a
| good job or where can I ask this question in case your list does not permit
| such requests. (Answers can be posted to my personal address :
| brixu@free.fr) 
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