Whoopee! The pianos are now both tuned, and I have met the delightful Mr. Stainthorpe. The hammers on the old baby grand are hardened, so it sounds like a honky tonk piano. He played a bit of a rag time ditty on it, which was very entertaining. Such pizzaz! He is a violinist, and played in the Sacramento Symphony, until they put him on viola, which he didn't think was fun. Anyway, he wanted to see Mom's old violin, so I got it out for him, but when he went to play it, he found it was strung as a viola. Oh, right. Loquacious Daughter was practicing viola before she had one by restringing the violin. It all makes sense, but Mr. Stainthorpe and I were dissapointed, because we wanted to hear a violin.
He told me many fine and entertaining stories, but I have already forgotten the details. One was about a guy he gives overflow work to who made a custom organ for Toyota. He had to give up his organ making because the organ making shop where he worked closed because the man who owned it retired. Alas!
My hammers are hard. Did I mention that yet? On the baby grand piano. He says it is very expensive to replace the hammers. He says for a short-lived fix, I could poke holes in them all to let a little air in. That doesn't sound like anything I'm going to do. Hard hammers sound kind of rinky tinky. Anyway, it is sure a lot nicer than it was. Maybe I will add photos later.
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9 comments:
Is it super expensive to replace the pads on the hammers? Or, is that something you wouldn't want to have done, as it would decrease the value of the instrument? Jus one-ering.
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Sounded like it would be not only expensive, but there would be a lengthy waiting period, too. He seemed to think I should wait a while before deciding on anything like that, since the piano is supposed to start sounding better. It already has.
Value of piano? Hardy harr harr. That's a good one. Probably the sort of thing that can't be GIVEN away. (Not that I'd want to.)
It sounds as if you've enjoyed a delightful visit with a nice gentleman. A nice bonus to come along with your tuned piano.
Frankly, I probably can't even tell the difference between a piano that has hard hammers or not. I think I'd need to hear them side by side. I can tell that my piano has a "fuller" sound than many that I've heard. Lots of people have told me that they think it does too. I know so little about instruments. Can't play, just know what I like to listen to. I do however know the difference between a piano that is decorated...and one that is not!
I hope you're having a nice weekend.
Whee! What a good laugh you gave me, Mrs. Staggs. I enthusiastically agree with your last statement.
Mr. Stainthorpe told me about tuning a couple piano's for Shakey's Pizza back when they first opened, (and then maintaining them in that way) so they were desifinado on pupose. Each key has three wires, and he'd tune all the wires, then go through and detune the third wire, varying by octive, to give it the honky tonk sound.
I love Mr. Stainthorpe! Have you ever been to his shop?? When I went there, shopping for a "new" piano, I stood in awe. Of course, this was his old shop, housed in an old movie theater. He kept the stage and seating so that folks could use it for recitals and such.
When I came through the door, his lovely wife greeted us. I told her what I needed: My childhood piano was built during WWII and could no longer be tuned without completing gutting its interior. I had an upright grand or spinnett in mind. But, then she picked up this remote, hit "play," and the grand piano in the center of the store began playing "Cabaret!" I cried right there on the spot!
Hubby took me home in a heap. There was no way I could afford the $18,000 being asked for the piano. It was about $15,000 over my budget! But, for 4 restless nights I dreamed, tossed, and turned, thinking about that piano. You know the rest...I used my car as collatoral and bought that piano! It's truly one of the big reasons we moved to a bigger house. It just about covered 1/3 of our old living room!
Thanks for the story, Vita!
Mr. Stainthorpe immitaded a player piano gone awry. I think he also swashed and buckeled. He certainly flourished. So entertaining. I have to wait a whole year before I can have him back. (He thought the old piano might like another tuning in a year, but not the younger one.)
I mean immitated.
What I really mean is imitated.
Good for a party conversation:
"What did you do at the weekend?"
"Oh, just sat and poked a few holes in my piano hammers".
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