Petrof

[Jory A. Olson]

Thanks for your comments Dale.  I basically agree with you on every point.  I just wanted to point out that the hammers on my Petrof III (and those on the Petrof I, II, and model 130 upright as well) are Renner hammers.  The action in my Petrof is basically identical to the action in the 6' 1" Schimmel.  Same hammers, same wippens, etc. The keys are different between the Schimmel and the Petrof however.  The hammers in the smaller Petrof IV, and V are Tofa (Sp?) hammers.  

My technician used a LIBERAL amount of alcohol and water mixture on the hammers to accomplish the voicing.  These hammers really are tough!  My technician gave up on the needle and resorted to alcohol and water (Absolute Vodka seems to work the best, 'cause it's Swedish ya know :))  Anyway, it took a couple of rounds of alcohol and water to mellow the sucker down, but it worked.

I totally agree with your comments about a lack of finesse.  I just don't think the person doing the regulation at the factory knew what he or she was trying accomplish.  The letoff was way too close to the strings and several notes started double-striking within a week of playing it.

So what's a "guide rail bushing"?

Jory


Date:	Sun, 2 Aug 1998 17:59:10 -0600
From:	foxpiano@juno.com (dale  r fox)
Subject:	Re: Petrof

Hi Jory,
I must agree with you in almost every point.   I frequently refer serious customers to the local Petrof dealer before making a grand piano purchase.  (Upright too).   The Petrofs come in a little rough around the edges but _most_ of them can be tweaked with relative success.  Some of them have some interesting capo bar shapes which present a little more of a challenge.   I usually advise  people to play the piano heartily for a couple of months before doing the finer points of regulation.  (I do not believe that they pound in their actions like some of the more technologically advanced makers of instruments from the Pacific rim, before doing action regulation.  I also don't believe that they are all that good at regulation.)   Special attention needs to be given to guide rail bushings and string leveling.
For those who believe that every piano should be_peeeerfect_  as it is unboxed,  let me say that you are certainly welcome to your opinion.   My customers pay my fees so that their piano will sound better.  If the manufacturer gives me something I can improve upon,  I much prefer that to a piano which has no chance of ever being musical in the least.  The price point of the Petrof indicates a certain lack of finess is to be expected.  I don't mind providing the finess for a price.  
As to James' observations listed below,  Some of those more expensive, well prepped instruments may play better out of the box,  and may be as close to perfect as you could wish from a mechanical point of view,  but if they aren't musical at that point,  they will never be fun or exciting to play_music_ on.    Maybe James G.  will gain a different point of view from this thread,  we do get paid to fix pianos, after all!
Last point,  The action and mechanicals on the Petrof are very workable.  The hammers are another subject.  Better than the petrified felt that hails from al points Asian,  but still a major disappointment when trying to coax a little more out of the piano.
All IMHO
Regards, 
Dale Fox