[CAUT] Selecting a new B

[A440A at aol.com]

Dave writes:

<< A small local community college is buying a new B and has asked me to tag 
along during the selection process. In addition to the "normal" inspection 
items I use to assist a buyer, are there other things that you find are helpful 
to College and University faculty?  >>

1.  Check the downbearing
2.  check to see how many front rail pins are nicked on the bearing 
surface,(makes for short-lived bushings)
3.  examine how high the shanks are off the cushions (over 5mm indicates some 
serious action problems
4.  tune the bottom 6 strings to check pin torque
5.  Check the hammer pinning with a slat under the shanks,  you may find a 
number of them that wiggle         sideways
6.  Listen to how much hardener is in the hammers in the 5th octave.  
Excessive lacquer indicates a poorly    performing soundboard and will become harsh 
and unvoiceable in short order. 
7.  look closely at how well the una corda performs
8.  poorly traveled hammers result in uneven centerpin wear,(and new 
Steinways usually have massive               amounts of traveling to be done
9.  listen to the damper wires as you move the pedal, recent Steinways have 
had rough plating 
10.  Check to see how much lateral pressure is bearing on the sides of the 
damper guide bushings
11.  examine the jacks location in the mortise, there may be several that are 
already rubbing the sides
12. check to see that all the trapwork bushings, (plastic, these days) are 
firm.  It isn't uncommon for the installer to have deformed them while forcing 
the shift lever to meet the pedal rod

     There is a long list of things that the factory expects the dealer's 
tech to deal with.  Take nothing for granted.  Listen carefully for buzzes and 
zings, and don't let them tell you that any "problems" you find will be fixed 
after the purchase!  
Good luck,   



Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
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