Problems with new Steinways

[piannaman at aol.com]

Hi Dale,
 
I haven't got anywhere near your experience with Steinways, I do work on some, mostly older ones.
 
I don't see many new Steinways, but the service calls on them always seem to be more involved than I bargain for.  While I would never think of calling most of them bad pianos, I seldom feel that the price/performance ration is good.
 
Problems on some:  really mushy front rail punchings with nebulous regulation (can be cured by Allegro Wurzen punchings)  
False beats at the capo bar, as you stated
Wimpy hammers that were never juiced to factory standards
Clangy hammers that were juiced well beyond factory standards.
Lack of maintenance, based on lack of concern by the owner, who often bought the piano as something to fill a corner at the suggestion of an interior decorator.
 
These are pianos that are 3-5 years old, not brand new.  The new pianos that come from the local dealer are well prepped at the store, and I don't see many of them.
 
Clients expect me to be excited when they tell me they have a Steinway that they'd like me to tune.  Au contraire, I'm usually a tad nervous because I never know quite what to expect!
 
Dave Stahl

Dave Stahl Piano Service
650-224-3560
dstahlpiano at sbcglobal.net
http://dstahlpiano.net/




 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Erwinspiano at aol.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Sat, 2 Dec 2006 9:44 PM
Subject: Problems with new Steinways


  Hi all
  I don't get out in field much but I have seen two new Steinways recently year.  One is a new L & the other a New O.  I saw the O last week. Really quite a nice sounding piano.
    I've laid my hands on probably hundreds of Steinways of all vintages & not expereinced glide bolts so loose they were wobbling & turnable by hand.  Also they were about three cranks from being in touch with the key bed which seems to be par for the course. The damper up stop rail is all the way down on the screws & the dampers are still over traveling a mile. The clients biggest concern though is Bass dampers that won't shut off.  After tweaking futzing & lightly bending they were improved only slightly.  Primarily it was notes 11 thru15 but on forte blows they were all slow to shut off, with a very nasty over ring.  After further examination I found they no longer employ the use of damper return springs. IMO this is a mistake & a pain for any tech trying to achieve really quick shut off.  Regulation was in need but not desperate
  The L had so many false beats in the top capo sections that it was not possible to tune cleanly.  Glide bolts a mile off & keys bouncing like a spring board. etc etc.
  Are you guys seeing similar things & is any one having success getting a response from the warranty department. 
  I have more to say regarding this but want to hear your feed back.
  Thanks
  Dale Erwin
  By the way I secured  a copy of the warranty & the wording is so nebulous I can't tell it covers any thing 
 
Dale Erwin--Piano Restorations
Modesto, Ca.
Shop 209-577-8397
cell 209-985-0990
Web site http://www.Erwinspiano.com 
Restoration & Sales of
Steinway & Sons plus other fine pianos.
Custom made soundboards by design
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