good evening everyone! I hope I am writing in the right section...
si would be interested in buying a new piano and I found a 1922 New York Steinway that is one meter eighty. now, what I have noticed is that among the steel strings, at the point immediately preceding where the string "bends in two", there should usually be those segments of metal bars "welded" onto that "plate" made of a material that looks like aluminum to me,
whereas here instead, as can be seen from the photo I am inserting below, there is a simple bar that covers entire sectors lengthwise,
the owner says that construction characteristics can change slightly from one factory to another, yet it is the first time I have seen this in this brand,
Steinway only introduced the bars in question at a later date
Thank you, Maestro.... One other thing I would like to ask you, even though I can imagine it might be very subjective and personal, based on your technical and musical experience, do you believe that the difference between the two types of scale could be evident?.... my fear is of purchasing a piano that in the long term might somehow "become boring to me"..
A Steinway is always a prince... no, even a King. And the instrument in question could be very interesting. It should nonetheless be examined by an... expert. The important thing is that in the maintenance and any eventual restoration, original parts specific to the manufacturer's suggestions are used. In any case, NEVER throw away the replaced parts (the hammer rail, for example...). Undoubtedly, such an old instrument will need a restoration or, at most, a servicing.
A Steinway is always a prince... no, a King. And the instrument in question could be very interesting. It should nonetheless be examined by an... expert. The important thing is that in the maintenance and eventual restoration, original parts specific to the manufacturer's suggestions are used. In any case, NEVER throw away the replaced parts (the action, for example...). Undoubtedly, such an old instrument will need a restoration or, at most, a servicing.
Well, on this point... the owner told me with laudable honesty that the mechanical parts, pins, rods, hammers, are not the originals, proposing it to me at a price that is very affordable for me. If I wanted to restore them, could there be "hiccups" in figuring out what they were, and in sourcing them considering that it comes from the American factory? Because I believe I once heard that there were some restrictions...
For me, it would be the realization of a dream I have always had; at the moment, I am trying with all my might to keep my feet on the ground.
Both the original terms and the hammer rail can be replaced. All measurements are known. The costs are quite high. The Hamburg spare parts work very well. Perhaps New York-type hammers can also be found. Everything needs to be checked. To be ordered. To be installed according to strict specifications. It is possible that it is not necessary to replace the terms. The Steinway hammer rail has a particular sound, but only if impregnated and voiced according to the manufacturer's specifications. The American sound is a bit more "aggressive". And that is "culturally" intended. It depends on the impregnation of the hammers which, in the case of American instruments, is done deeply and completely (including the striking point). Obviously, the voicing procedure is also slightly different. An expert is necessary.
