I own an old Japanese grand piano from the early '80s...
The years spent under my hands preparing for exams are all felt: in the action, which is now excessively loose, no longer balanced and certainly noisy, and in the sound, which has become metallic and shrill, etc.
Aside from the sentimental value, which in itself would justify the expense of refurbishing it, I ask those who know more than me if it is worth changing the hammer rail (original or non-original?) and strings to get a softer and less metallic sound than it currently has, or even if it is necessary to change the entire action (original or not?).
The instrument is a Yamaha C5, obviously.
In short, I would like to get an authoritative opinion.
Hi Marco, if the piano is from the 80s and you have never worked on it, there will surely be some mechanical problems. The problems that arise in the mechanics depend on how the piano is maintained (temperature, thermal shifts, and relative humidity) as well as the usage time. However, I don't think anyone here can take the responsibility of telling you if a mechanism needs new hammer felt or if it even needs to be replaced entirely (which, as far as I know, almost never happens for pianos that are only 30 years old) just by reading a post. For such advice, an on-site inspection is necessary, which requires examining the keyboard and understanding if the damage (or issue) is repairable without spending a huge amount, because a new transmission mechanism costs quite a bit of money! If you are not too far from Rome, you could arrange something with our technician/pianist/musicologist Maestro Paolo Ferrarelli (known as Pianoexpert) here on the platform, who, once the actual state of the mechanics has been verified, will be able to tell you what needs to be done and, if necessary, arrange repairs with him. If you have never shaved the hammers, the solution might be exactly that: shaving (which I remember must be performed by specialized personnel, otherwise serious damage can occur!). And perhaps for the rest of the mechanics, it might only be necessary to regulate it, or change the hammer roller, calibrate the spring, change the center pins and the mortise cloths, or a mix of these interventions. In short, one cannot answer without having seen the mechanics themselves. To make an analogy in the mechanical world, it is as if you had a car and told us: "the car isn't working well. Should I change the engine?". Perhaps by changing a simple turbine hose, everything would return to normal. I am certain that our Pianoexpert will be able to be more precise than me in this answer...
Thank you for the response... I think I will take advantage of the proximity to Rome and Maestro Ferrarelli, alias pianoexpert, to delve deeper into the problem and eventually schedule the intervention.
A thank you for the possibility of discussing the musical passion that unites us using modern and computer-based means (for me, it is the first time I have entered a forum).
The Yamaha C5 is an excellent piano. Having played it a lot is fine. I am sure it has given you great satisfaction. The harsh sound is certainly due to poor voicing, but if the hammer rail is very worn, perhaps it needs to be changed; alternatively, if there is still plenty of felt, and/or if it hasn't been done already, it can be shaved and re-voiced. Furthermore, one must see what condition the hammer repetitions and the keyboard felts are in... in short, a check-up is necessary. If you are not very far from Rome, we can look at it for free and talk together about which interventions are necessary.
I would exclude replacing the action!!!!! This is almost never done. At most, the hammers complete with shanks are replaced, both because you have the advantage of having new repetitions and center pins, but also because the original hammer rail remains with the owner.
In short, one must see what is truly necessary. If you want, you can call me at 3393395980 or 328 6144516.
Hi Paolo. I am renewing my request regarding being able to enter a restoration laboratory to learn the trade. If you happen to receive a lead in the sector or if you have any contacts in Tuscany, I would be truly grateful. I have been looking for years but it is truly difficult for me to start this profession. Hi and thanks.
