Welcome to: alexpiano75 on Pianoconcerto.it

Welcome among us

Hello,

It is a pleasure to have met you; after finding a video of Paolo's on YouTube, I became curious and started following all your videos.

Allow me to introduce myself:

My name is Alessandro, I have a Bachelor's and a PhD in Physics but am very passionate about the piano, from Classical to Jazz. I studied classical piano for 7 years, obtaining teaching certificates for solfeggio, etc., and my piano level regarding classical music is around the 5th year, but I also play higher-level pieces, even though my memory falters and I cannot find a method to strengthen it; could you perhaps make a video on this? It would be fantastic.

I am 39 years old and have a great desire to start studying complex and romantic classical piano pieces again; my idol is Chopin.

Regarding the mechanics of the piano, I have a Korean Young Chang E118 upright piano, not excellent in certain aspects but yes in others. However, it is 20 years old and I have decided to refurbish it! First, I will replace all the hammers that are now dry and hard when striking the strings, resulting in a metallic sound. Then I will move on to checking the dampers and, if necessary, replacing the felt! I have already purchased all the spare parts online!

Paolo's videos have been fundamental for me, and since the piano is in poor condition, I will enjoy renewing many of its parts! I can't wait and I am trembling with excitement for this!

Simone, your videos—I use the informal 'tu' because you are truly pleasant people—are very interesting; I believe the thesis was disseminated very well, especially structured to make the subject understandable to many, even though culture in Italy has truly declined today, so this type of popularization is very difficult. Thanks to both of you regarding beats (beats/interference); on a practical level, I didn't understand how to hear them, but now I have an idea!

And then the videos about the various courses, including the digital one which interests me a lot since I have a digital Yamaha (Arious) and a MIDI interface to use.

In short, I am re-entering this world in this way, especially classical!

See you soon,

Alessandro

I advise you not to throw away the old hammers and to replace the dampers and nocks as well. This way, you can keep the old hammer rail intact and complete so that you can also check for any errors later on regarding the striking point of the new one's gluing. Pay attention to drilling it. It is a complex job; I hope you already have experience with this type of intervention. Replacing the dampers also has specific execution methods, otherwise, especially in the bass, there will be annoying sympathetic vibrations. Their regulation is also a delicate matter. Let us know. Good luck with your work

Hi Paolo,

Thank you very much for the significant advice regarding the hammer knuckles; indeed, I hadn't thought of that.

As for the dampers, I already have 4 strings making very annoying buzzing noises, but I will deal with the string-damper problem later.

My experience as a technician is limited to practice, just a passion, but in the past I replaced a hammer and its knuckle because part of the knuckle broke—incredible but true—unless it was already defective and the first technician who recorded it, if they even did, didn't notice.

Anyway, I have worked quite a bit on hammers, shaving and voicing, to recover them and obtained good results, certainly better than their previous state, but now they are truly beyond recovery!

I will carefully consider the advice you gave me and I will immediately get to work to try to find the corresponding knuckles and see the cost.

One thing: as a Physicist, I can truly say that I am fascinated by the mechanics of an upright and grand piano; it all seems explainable through Classical Physics, but it isn't! Some laws are not truly linear; for example, explaining how friction is distributed over a contact area is not easy—at most, a PC simulation can give an idea of it. A beautiful and pleasant complexity!

I will let you know about my work, thanks again. If I have any doubts or problems, I will ask you through the forum. Compliments on everything you do.

Bye,

Alessandro

Welcome Alessandro

Thank you Frank, it's a pleasure to meet you.

Alessandro

If you want, since you are in Rome, you can give me a call and it's possible we could take a look at this instrument before starting. I will send you my number in a message.