I am about to buy the first piano for my daughter. It is from the 40s, the cabinet is very beautiful, and it has always been kept in excellent condition in a music school. This fact reassures me because it convinces me that it has been treated with care over the years and constantly tuned. Now, all this also means that it has been played a lot....
It is for this reason that I am attaching photos of the action so that you can give me an opinion: to me, the hammers seem worn out and I would like to know if shaving or other intervention is necessary (which I do not want to pay for now) or if the piano can play for a few more years without interventions. My daughter attends a middle school with a musical focus and will play every day for several years. It is certainly not the commitment of a conservatory, but I would not want to spend my money on a piano that does not last at least a few years without intervention. They tell me that the sound is very sweet: is it possible with these hammers? We will try it shortly, but we are inexperienced. Thanks to anyone who can give us guidance.
The hammers have already been shaved and poorly (especially in the highs, never so rounded), furthermore they are misaligned and already heavily marked. The sound should be "woody" and with little range between forte and piano, i.e., not very expressive. I believe the other parts will also be worn out and one must see the situation in person (certainly the strings must also be replaced). Assuming the piano has a good sonority, one intervenes with a serious restoration, entrusted to a specialized and, above all, disinterested technician. Remember never to throw away the replaced parts. In the case of the hammer rail, this must not be removed and the stiletto must be replaced along with the entire wood block and fork, so as to keep the old one intact and glued. This is IMPORTANT!!!!!!. Therefore, it depends on the selling price and the evaluation of the quality of the instrument.
P.S. One must also verify if there are cracks in the structure and if the instrument holds its tuning
Thank you very much..... the price is 800 euros. At this point, for her musical training, being at the beginning, perhaps it is better that she continues to use the weighted-key keyboard she already has, which perhaps at this point is more expressive than a poorly set up piano.... Until I find a decent instrument. What brand would you suggest I look for for an 11-year-old girl who is at the beginning of her studies, who conducts brilliantly with a beautiful soft hand and who has years of study ahead of her? The mother played the guitar and knows little about the piano....? Thank you
Alternatively, I have almost decided to purchase this Zimmerman that is more than 50 years old. Single owner and always well-maintained by a music teacher. Here too the felts are worn, but they seem to me to be in better condition than the other one (but I ask for your opinion) and the piano costs half as much (less than 400 euros), so even if I had to work on it in a couple of years, the purchase price is still more modest. I am asking for advice. Thank you so much in advance.
Pianos this old can hide structural problems that a private individual will find difficult to see. A trusted technician must assist with the purchase. Sometimes even an important restoration does not create added value for the instrument, and sometimes it fails to make it efficient enough for proper study. Everything must be evaluated, but up close
And compliments on the website. For a novice like me, your site has the ability to accompany me in the discovery of an intricate world that has always fascinated me. I played for several years in a plucked instrument orchestra at an amateur level, without conservatory training. A lot of time has passed since then and it surprises me to see how your approach is able to awaken the same love for music in people so different in training, background, experiences, and culture.
