Steinway model Z weak bass

[Farrell]

> I see a dealer is selling one of the same age for around $20,000 which 
> seems to me far too much.

Too much for whom? The seller or the buyer?

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
> Last week I had a call from a local retired music teacher, who I had as 
> class music teacher when I started high school back in 1971. He is active 
> in musical circles locally, but has never been my client simply due to 
> having stayed with the father-and-son team (now son only) that he used for 
> years.
>
> He wasn't too happy wiuth the tuning that was done a couple of months ago, 
> and wanted me to come instead, which I did.  His piano is a Steinway Model 
> Z from 1971 and oddly, it's the first Steinway Z I have tuned since I 
> started in 1984.  I have to say I wasn't phenomenally impressed. It's nice 
> enough and all that, but not superlative in any way.   The top lid is 
> hinged from the left hand end, a thing I've seen before - I guess it was 
> meant to impart the impression of opening a grand lid.  But in what I feel 
> is a design flaw, the hinge pin must be removed to take off the lid for 
> tuning, and it has to be withdrawn from the back, which means pulling the 
> piano out from the wall.
>
> Anyway, what I'd like opinions on is this:  The bass sounds soft and weak, 
> almost (but not as bad) as if the bass bridge was detached.  Time simply 
> ran out for investigating this, as I had done some key easing and he had 
> to go out.  When I commented on the bass, he agreed and said it had always 
> sounded like that.  I would like to go back and have a proper look at the 
> bridge etc at some point.  But does anyone know if there is any particular 
> feature or problem with the Z?
>
> I see a dealer is selling one of the same age for around $20,000 which 
> seems to me far too much. You could buy a beautiful new Feurich form not 
> much more.  But I guess they will get their price because of the name.
>
> Best regards,
>
> David.
>
>
>