Hello everyone!👋🏻 I am a piano lover and a few months ago I had the opportunity to purchase an upright at a derisory price (just €250 from a private individual who had to move) the piano should be of the Eisenberg brand (from what I managed to discover from the serial number, the brand has been covered up) and it is from the early seventies. It features a Pianic action; visually it is in excellent condition and throughout its life it was practically never played by the previous owner. Now, the problem is that besides a general stiffness of the keyboard on many keys, in the piano and pianissimo levels the hammer tends to bounce back on the string, creating a very annoying repetition (ribattuto). The phenomenon is more invasive in the bass register and in the middle register (I believe due to the greater weight of the hammers, correct me if my conclusions are wrong) and almost absent in the treble register. I have already read about a couple of problems similar to mine here on the forum but I haven't been able to resolve them using the information from other discussions, so I hope not to be repetitive. Through the videos of Maestro Ferrarelli, which literally opened up a world for me, I was able to observe that at least upon initial examination, the main adjustments seem to fall within the correct limits. Hammer-string distance 45 mm, key dip slightly less than 10 mm and let-off regulated at about 3 mm. That being said, I wanted to ask you, is it possible that this particular action needs a different adjustment from the more "general" one? I couldn't find any data from the manufacturer on the web, so I rely on your experience. And, in the negative case, what could cause such an annoying and cumbersome problem and how could I resolve it? Could I have ignored some detail or taken some measurements incorrectly?. I know that the simplest way to resolve it would most likely be to call a technician but given the current situation, my good manual dexterity and my deep thirst for knowledge regarding such an exceptional instrument as the piano, I would like to try to resolve the problem with my own hands (obviously within certain limits) under the wise guidance that I am sure you will provide me and relying on your opinions🙂. Thank you in advance for the answers and I hope I have been clear enough!
I am trying to respond in anticipation of a competent response from Paolo Ferrarelli. First of all, the fact that it has never been used does not mean it is not worn out; on the contrary, perhaps even worse: I am SURE that all the pins (action and keyboard) must be replaced after boring out the buckskin in the holes where they are inserted, and that the hammer felt has hardened over time. Everything I told you about pins and buckskin can also happen in a new and refined piano that has sat for months without being played: playing represents a "massage" for the seals, which would otherwise tend to seize up. That repetition/rebound you are talking about, I think results from insufficient key depression, but it can be fueled by friction.
Given the low cost of the instrument and many other aspects, I don't know—you decide—if it is worth refurbishing it, which will certainly cost you much more than the cost of the piano itself. It depends on whether it's worth the effort. I am not familiar with this brand, so let's wait for Maestro Ferrarelli.
What Francesco says might be right. Anyway, it remains to be seen. There are things that can be done and learned with "DIY," but in these cases, the instrument as a whole must be examined. If the piano sounds good, it might be worth setting it up properly. It needs to be seen. After all, even semi-new and inexpensive pianos can have a series of problems that make them "unplayable." Regardless of the sound quality (which can, however, always be improved), the piano must function well... otherwise, it is not a piano. The point is that you will find yourself facing a number of interdependent variables, and an error in one can compromise the others. The initial cost of the piano can hide a series of problems, some of which, we hope, are not partially irreversible (tuning stability, condition of the soundboard, condition of the plate, etc.). In the end, after having spent money on a refurbishment, the piano might function and sound like a piano from a private seller or a shop that would have needed significant adjustment anyway, despite perhaps a higher purchase price. In the meantime, send us photos of the inside of the action and also an audio file.
P.S. The pianica action is not much, but it can work well if properly checked and assisted.
P.P.S. Naturally, my tutorials are not intended or intended to instruct the pianist to delude themselves into becoming an "immediate technician" through DIY (Naturally, they might perhaps become one by studying, deepening their knowledge, and experimenting in a laboratory under the guidance of an expert). Instead, it is extremely important that the pianist realizes what causes their dissatisfaction regarding the instrument and what is necessary to do to bring it back to full efficiency.
