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Subject: New (Old) Piano From: black walnut Date: 28 Sep 04 - 10:37 AM This morning the piano I've played on for 43 years (my parents bought it for $100 when I was 7 years old) was traded in for an absolutely magnificently rebuilt 1902 Heintzman! We got $500 Can. credit for the old one - a turn of the century Mozart - which they took away for us, no moving fees. We got some money for it, not because the insides were any good anymore, but because a few years back we'd had several layers of paint stripped off and had her nicely refinished. We Mudcatters usually talk about guitars and banjos and dulcimers and harps, but not too much about pianos. I've been a pianist most of my life, and I love the fact that we have a piano here when we have our folky friends over. Piano is good for gospel, olde tyme, blues, singersongwriter, Celtic, just about anything. I'm terribly happy to have a good new piano in my living room, for my own enjoyment, and for whenever the gang drops in. Anyone else here with a new or old or interesting piano to talk about? |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Devilmaster Date: 28 Sep 04 - 12:23 PM We had a thread about this a few years back, I guess...... I own a New York Weber upright, circa 1885-1888. (records from that time do not have a specific date) My parents bought it for me as a youngin for 75 bucks, as the old owners were just wanting to get rid of it because they had a new one coming. Even though its seen better days, I don't think I could part with it. It will see a restoration when I have the money to have it properly done. I'll have to go looking for it, but there was a thread about restoring pianos, never did find out how it went for whomever said they were having it done. Anyways, once i find it, i'll link it. Steve |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Devilmaster Date: 28 Sep 04 - 12:27 PM Found it! Restringing Antique Upright Grand Piano Steve |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Sep 04 - 01:01 PM Ah, yes, and as I noticed this piano thread I wondered where my old thread had gotten to. The old piano still hasn't been restrung, but it hasn't been tampered with either. It still plays pretty well, considering how long since it was last tuned. SRS |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Mooh Date: 28 Sep 04 - 01:22 PM Always lusted after a good upright, there being no room or money for a grand. Grew up with an apartment sized piano which 5 kids learned on, Dad wrote tons of music on, Mom banged out hymns on, and now the kid sister has. It was kept tuned a semi-tone low, something to do with the soundboard, and it sounds nice, but I always wanted more power than it could deliver. Congrats bw, seems like it's your year for instruments! Peace, Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Bert Date: 28 Sep 04 - 02:33 PM I got this blond 1939 Wurlitzer console piano. I don't play the piano but I just couldn't resist it. It's a wonderful piece of furniture and it has a great tone. The poor thing needs to be played though. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Mary in Kentucky Date: 28 Sep 04 - 02:34 PM I've had two unusual ones in my lifetime, four and a loaner in total. 1. The first was the old upright that was my gg-grandmother's. It went from Arkansas to Texas to Kentucky with my parents. (While in Texas my father refinished it and put high gloss marine varnish on it...really quite beautiful.) Then it went to Memphis. Then Hubby brought it back to Kentucky for his "bride." (I bought the sheet music to "The Sting" for it's inauguration.) Then it went with us to Alabama. (Hint: when you move one, never tell the helpers you have a piano until after they're committed, preferably with no way to leave.) Then it came back to my three different houses in Kentucky. When my daughter wanted it for her house, Hubby said it would never come back here. After a few years she didn't need furniture to fill up her house, and wanted to get rid of it. In the meantime I had a grand (bought at a yard sale) and didn't need two pianos. On a whim, I called my cousin in Mississippi who has a farm/petting zoo/restaurant/recreation farm. She had just the place for it in her restaurant. AND...her brother owns a moving company and had it out the door in 15 minutes! I have pictures of it with my mother, aunt & uncle standing in front of it. It has a wonderful home now. 2. Another unique piano I owned as a child was a "studio" (between a baby and a grand in size) grand piano which was made in Vienna. A soldier's wife from Czechoslavakia brought it over with her. When the piano tuner looked at the innards, he sat on the floor laughing. All the action was totally different from anything he had seen before. I never really liked playing that piano because the spacing on the keys was just a little too large for my hands. When I was a senior in HS, we traded it in for a nice spinet (I forget the brand) which had a tall back but not as tall as an upright. Now I have my grand in the living room and my mother-in-law's spinet which we are storing until my sister-in-law picks it up. I wish my granddaughter would play duets, but she doesn't seem interested. She's four now. Her mother wrote her own song when she was five. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: leeneia Date: 29 Sep 04 - 12:23 AM I have an Ivors and Pond upright grand made in 1906. The bass on it is incredible. The high notes are a little tinny, but I think they're acceptable as long as they aren't struck too hard. Inside it is a Dampp-chaser, a gizmo from the UK which regulates the humidity. In 2006 I plan to have a 100th-birthday party for it. When I feel anxious or frustrated, I play it for a while, and peace returns to my soul. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 29 Sep 04 - 11:13 AM When my Beautiful Wife (a classical pianist) and I were married, 41 years ago, she had a Steinway upright (I think late 1890s to 1900)which she'd had for many years. Then a piano friend went to Austria and needed to leave his 1917(?) Steinway grand somewhere, so we had two pianos, hers in the family room and his in the living room. Then we traded her upright for a fairly recent Yamaha, and had two grands in the living room. Then the friend's grand was reclaimed, but after a while another piano friend went to the Phillipines for a time, and we had two grands (one Steinway, one Yamaha) in the living room again, for a few years. Then, about 1995 my wife was lusting for a Steinway. We contacted a piano broker in Chicago, and spent a day in Chicago with him, going from music company to piano dealer to rebuilder. My wife was in seventh heaven. We ended trading her Yamaha for a totally rebuilt 1922 Steinway grand. When I say "totally rebuilt", I mean that we ended up with what amounted to a new piano inside with only the completely refinished 1922 case and cast iron frame left from before. Wondrous tone, wondrous action! My B.W. was and is in love with it, and other pianists and the twice-yearly tuner rave about its tone and action. And I'm pleased to say that every so often I get great affectionate resurgences of love and appreciation from my B.W. for having got it for her. Dave Oesterreich |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: GUEST,Globtroter Date: 29 Sep 04 - 11:16 AM Good piano is not bad |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Sep 04 - 11:18 AM Dave, that's no small capital investment, either! Several years ago I read an article in the New Yorker that talked about a woman who sells Steinways in the NYC showroom, and how she had pianos and classical music in her life, and how she can match the temperament of the pianist to specific instruments. They're not all alike! SRS |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: black walnut Date: 30 Sep 04 - 07:59 AM leeneia said: "When I feel anxious or frustrated, I play it for a while, and peace returns to my soul." Lovely. That's how I went about choosing a piano. I played them until I found the one that made me want to play it. It was like meeting an old friend. I know we'll have many intimate converstations together. Beautiful stories, all. ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Mary in Kentucky Date: 30 Sep 04 - 09:29 AM After 9/11 the only thing that gave me solace was Chopin's Waltz in A minor. A read a quote (I think) in one of Albert Schweitzers's books about pianos and Chopin. I've searched for the quote but can't find it again. It was something to the effect of -- "When you're playing Chopin, the instrument doesn't really matter." He was a classical pianist and had an old upright shipped to him in Africa. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: black walnut Date: 30 Sep 04 - 12:34 PM I didn't know that about Albert S! I played 'classical' piano for years, and loved it. Accompanied choirs and instrumentalists and church. I couldn't play 'by ear' on the piano until I learned how to play Celtic harp by ear, then the skill tranferred to my other instruments. This morning I pulled out my old Bach Preludes and Fugues. SO much nicer on my new (old) piano! ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: GUEST,Anne Croucher Date: 30 Sep 04 - 01:00 PM Just because a four year old is not interested in playing piano I wuld not give up on her just yet. Maybe buy her a little small keysize multivoiced electronic keyboard to play with rather than on? It has taken me 50 years to find keyboard instruments of any kind at all interesting, even though we had an upright piano at home and my mother and sister played, my mother's mother had a really ancient looking piano too, I think there must be a piano playing gene. Anne |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 Sep 04 - 01:09 PM I love that Chopin waltz. I played many of his Preludes and Waltzes over the years when I was learning to play, and they continued with me for many years. I haven't played much lately, but I do like getting back to it and it feels good. SRS |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Mary in Kentucky Date: 30 Sep 04 - 06:13 PM LOL, Anne, of course I haven't given up on her. And I know from personal experience that grandmothers can often influence the little ones when Mama and Daddy can't! these pictures were taken today. Don't you think there is definitely the promise of piano genius here? *the pictures are of my granddaughters and the link will disappear in a few days. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: black walnut Date: 07 Oct 04 - 11:36 AM They're gone now, but they were great pictures while they lasted! ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 08 Oct 04 - 12:05 AM Black Walnut - Schweitzer took immense pleasure-his ability to improvise harmonies on the piano. At the age of five, Albert began piano lessons and composed harmonies for hymns at age seven. When his legs were long enough to reach the organ pedals, age eight, Albert started to play and on occasion accompanied the services in church.
Though noted as humanitarian he recorded a wonderful collection of Bach organ pieces and was a scholar on Bach and become the world's leading expert on organ construction that would prove worthy of the master's work.
He would return from Africa and give organ recitals. Recordings from 1930's have been remastered to CD.
Sincerely, |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Auggie Date: 08 Oct 04 - 12:19 AM I have a lovely 1876 square grand that my daughter would probably drag out of the house, were the house on fire, before she would come and get me, but it is woefully in need of tuning. Anyone know of a square grand tuner in the upper Midwest (USA)? |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Neighmond Date: 08 Oct 04 - 12:26 AM They usually have thinner plates, as such they have to be tuned to a lower pitch than 440. Also they have semi-circular pins many times. Takes a different end on the tuning hammer. Check with Gordon Licht in Waverly IA. Chaz |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: black walnut Date: 28 Dec 04 - 12:34 PM Today I'm very happy for my (new this fall) portable piano keyboard, which I can stick in the back of my car and take easily to my friends'. I'm a better pianist than guitarist, so it's a treat to have something light enough to by carry myself, but also has a good quality of sound. ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 29 Dec 04 - 01:54 AM b.w.
Please share with the rest of the readers...your keyboard's: Make
Can't get much of a discussion going about a portable-keyboard (lord only knows the genre includes harmoniums and accordians)
Sincerely,
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 29 Dec 04 - 08:00 AM I have an Excelsior metal cased keyboard with a few Accordion style Bass buttons - vintage unknown exactly. Single action Accrdion style reeds - with a 240V electric blower. I also have a much smaller plastic thing similar in function, with battery motor blower. I also have a hand pumpled Indian Harmonium. Robin |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: black walnut Date: 29 Dec 04 - 08:34 AM Here ya go, Gargoyle... My keyboard cost me something under $1000 Canadian, and I bought it new in 2004 from Long and McQuade's in Toronto. Yesterday I forgot to take the stand with me to the house I was visiting, so used their ironing board as a stand instead. A bit wobbly, but we managed! From the Roland website: ROLAND EP-760: Digital Piano The ep-760 is an affordable way to bring home a true Roland digital piano. It features a 76-note weighted keyboard and some of the best piano and instrument sounds available at any price. These features—along with an intuitive interface and choice of three keyboard modes—make the ep-760 both flexible and fun to play. Features: Affordably-priced digital piano in new metallic-gray cabinet 76-note weighted keyboard with touch sensitivity Roland's most realistic piano sounds and 64-voice polyphony 20 instrument sounds including strings, organ and choir Intuitive operation via dedicated buttons and simple LED display 3 flexible keyboard modes: Whole, Dual and Split 65 preset songs for listening or practice, plus easy Song Recorder Onboard reverb and chorus effects for "concert hall" sound Available as ep-760 or ep-760C with stand. ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: black walnut Date: 29 Dec 04 - 08:50 AM P.S. I've got my exact cost. Keyboard, stand, deluxe case (heavy softshell with pockets, great carrying straps), 2 padded adjustable seats (one for me and one for my guitar player), plus 15% tax, all came to $1132.65 CAN. ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: GUEST,Joyce from Fort Walton Beach, FL Date: 31 May 08 - 09:09 PM I have a Wurlizter piano that has vinyl siding on the piano everywhere except where the keys are and at the end where the keys are. It really used to play real good, had a very good touch. It needs tuning right now. I have since bought a small baby grand digital piano. I really love the touch of the new one also. I believe playing the new piano has improved my playing a lot. |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 01 Jun 08 - 09:59 PM The other day, I got lucky. Hey! Out at the local tip, in the shop, I found a 1983 vintage Yamaha PS35 keyboard - great little electronic organ. Second most lot of fun I've had for $40.... ahh, er... ummm... |
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Subject: RE: New (Old) Piano From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Jun 08 - 10:59 PM Vinyl siding? That's a new one! Welcome to Mudcat, Joyce from Fort Walton Beach, FL. We ask guests to have a consistent name when they join in discussion here at Mudcat, but you may get tired of retyping yours. We'll understand if you shorten it! ;-D Were you doing a search on pianos and stumbled upon this thread, or are you a regular Mudcat lurker? SRS |
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