Search found 71 matches

by dancarney
31 Mar 2013, 09:28
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Wendl & Lung
Replies: 16
Views: 33694

Re: Wendl & Lung

£2100 in 1971adjusted for inflation, would be (today) £25,500. Wow!
by dancarney
01 Mar 2013, 19:12
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Reporting problems to retailers and manufacturers
Replies: 8
Views: 11959

Re: Reporting problems to retailers and manufacturers

Our new Steinways came with an owners book, with space for the tuner to complete the service/tuning history (similar to what you get with a car).

Joe, I don't think the current RCS tuner (formerly RSAMD) is Polish.
by dancarney
23 Jan 2013, 22:58
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: New Kawai Piano
Replies: 11
Views: 13380

Re: New Kawai Piano

Your humidity levels are fine, don't worry. Your piano will be happy at your current levels.
by dancarney
29 Jul 2012, 20:19
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Restringing ?
Replies: 29
Views: 32222

Re: Restringing ?

A few years ago, In Acton, London, I watched a Steinway tech guy weighing new dampers down & embedding them on the strings with heavy small bean bags - and a mirror was there behind.... but I didnt see the regulation or fine adjustments later. However, Kawai were very fussy - little special gau...
by dancarney
28 Jul 2012, 19:07
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Kemble Minx restoration project
Replies: 16
Views: 23741

Re: Kemble Minx restoration project

I tuned a Kemble Minx this afternoon. This one has been kept in ideal conditions and doesn't suffer from sluggish keys/action parts. The hammers were a little worn, but not too bad. It was a little flat, but came up to pitch nicely and tuned as well as can be expected. Sounded pleasantly 'quaint' wh...
by dancarney
09 Jul 2012, 20:08
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Kawai K2 heavy action
Replies: 16
Views: 22413

Re: Kawai K2 heavy action

Your best bet is to ask your tuner to check the regulation.

He/she may be able to check the actual touch weight. It might be also an idea to contact the place of purchase to make them aware of the problem; they may offer a solution (as it's only 12 months old).
by dancarney
21 May 2012, 16:52
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: What Sounds mean a Piano Needs Voicing ?
Replies: 19
Views: 23182

Re: What Sounds mean a Piano Needs Voicing ?

Was it the final of the BBC Young Musician? Piano didn't sound great, tuning fell apart quite rapidly...
by dancarney
03 May 2012, 18:09
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Buying a piano on ebay/gumtree
Replies: 10
Views: 15174

Re: Buying a piano on ebay/gumtree

Very suspect about the M&H connection. Modern Bentley pianos are Chinese. As far as I know, M&H now use iron plates from China, and perhaps they share the same plate manufacturer. That's the only link I can see. Many dealers make all kinds of crap up; judge the instrument by its own qualitie...
by dancarney
20 Apr 2012, 19:14
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: A new or used piano up to £3k
Replies: 42
Views: 45883

Re: A new or used piano up to £3k

The U series is a very good choice for students/teachers/professionals. I help maintain around 70 Yamaha U3s that average around 6/7 hours of heavy use per day; they really do hold up very well! Gromit, if it's too 'forward' sounding, ask your tuner about voicing it to your taste. He should be able ...
by dancarney
11 Apr 2012, 20:14
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: six foot grand options
Replies: 22
Views: 28632

Re: six foot grand options

I hope the PE upgrades are huge. I've tuned three Bostons (pre-PE) and they have such a mushy-feeling wrest plank. Meant new GP-range of grand pianos they are a dwaddle to tune,and hold well.Kawais improvement is due to Steinway intervention in their manufacturing process back in 1992 and has taken...
by dancarney
11 Apr 2012, 17:40
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: six foot grand options
Replies: 22
Views: 28632

Re: six foot grand options

Yes, I liken it to a 'dull thud' of a tone. Cheap feel to it...
by dancarney
11 Apr 2012, 16:04
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: six foot grand options
Replies: 22
Views: 28632

Re: six foot grand options

I hope the PE upgrades are huge. I've tuned three Bostons (pre-PE) and they have such a mushy-feeling wrest plank.
by dancarney
10 Apr 2012, 16:12
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: What Sounds mean a Piano Needs Voicing ?
Replies: 19
Views: 23182

Re: What sounds mean that a piano needs Voicing.

It could be that the string is 'false' - i.e. has a beat (ringing) of its own. Or just a bad string. Voicing is to some extent down to personal taste. Essentially, the various sections of the piano; bass, tenor, treble, etc. should sonically relate to each other; and all notes within a section shoul...
by dancarney
04 Apr 2012, 20:58
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: A new or used piano up to £3k
Replies: 42
Views: 45883

Re: A new or used piano up to £3k

Did the delivery go smoothly?
by dancarney
27 Mar 2012, 15:32
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: A new or used piano up to £3k
Replies: 42
Views: 45883

Re: A new or used piano up to £3k

Gromit, I have it on good 'word' that you're the very same Gromit that frequents the place some affectionately call 'The Wam'. I also have a feeling that we may have exhibited at the same Pie show. Small world!
by dancarney
27 Mar 2012, 10:35
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: SIMPLE ..... Wash & Go !
Replies: 5
Views: 8197

Re: SIMPLE ..... Wash & Go !

I'm puzzled too. Come on Colin, help us fill in the blanks!! :D
by dancarney
25 Mar 2012, 17:09
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: A new or used piano up to £3k
Replies: 42
Views: 45883

Re: A new or used piano up to £3k

Enjoy! :D
by dancarney
23 Mar 2012, 21:01
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Another one...
Replies: 4
Views: 9749

Re: Another one...

He/she had a 3 foot concert grand advertised recently. Bet it sounded like 5H1T!
by dancarney
23 Mar 2012, 18:27
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: A new or used piano up to £3k
Replies: 42
Views: 45883

Re: A new or used piano up to £3k

I've only ever played on three Samick pianos, and all three were very good. Could be a good bet!
by dancarney
21 Mar 2012, 09:23
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: A new or used piano up to £3k
Replies: 42
Views: 45883

Re: A new or used piano up to £3k

If you shop around, you can find mid-to-late 1980s Yamaha U1 for under £3K.

I've sent you a PM to help with your search.
by dancarney
07 Mar 2012, 18:05
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Embarrasing mistake
Replies: 15
Views: 15960

Re: Embarrasing mistake

A semitone sharp seems to be a bit too much, even in the circumstances described.

Are you sure that the section you're comparing the said 16 with aren't a semitone flat?!
by dancarney
07 Mar 2012, 15:08
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Embarrasing mistake
Replies: 15
Views: 15960

Re: Embarrasing mistake

Unacceptable. Call him back out to fix the 16 problem notes.
by dancarney
22 Feb 2012, 09:26
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Pls help value my Offenbach Baby Grand
Replies: 10
Views: 15975

Re: Pls help value my Offenbach Baby Grand

There is also a really odd beat created with the final descending arpeggio.
by dancarney
12 Feb 2012, 18:51
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: local tuner for a historical tuning
Replies: 21
Views: 21476

Re: local tuner for a historical tuning

Gill the Piano wrote:
Colin Nicholson wrote: Stick to the one tuner - good policy.

I have a customer who alternates me with another local tuner. She likes to 'spread the business around'. Never mind us poor souls who have to change eachother's scale each time - no 2 tuners tune exactly alike. :roll:
So who's right, then?? :D
by dancarney
07 Feb 2012, 15:58
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: High level buying advice
Replies: 18
Views: 20024

Re: High level buying advice

Johnkie wrote:
Colin Nicholson wrote:probably changed over when they invented the shepherd's crook
Exactly right Colin :D I think you'll find it happened when the crooks were non-Extended Twist

:wink:
:P :P :P
by dancarney
30 Jan 2012, 09:17
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Piano to buy advice
Replies: 9
Views: 12894

Re: Piano to buy advice

Add Kawai K2, or perhaps you could find a good deal on a K3.
by dancarney
21 Jan 2012, 22:43
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Fingers and thumbs.
Replies: 14
Views: 17958

Re: Fingers and thumbs.

We haven't evolved much, but fingering definitely has. Compare Chopin Paderewski edition vs. Chopin Ekier edition.
by dancarney
21 Jan 2012, 18:21
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Fingers and thumbs.
Replies: 14
Views: 17958

Re: Fingers and thumbs.

This is an excerpt from one of my University essays (Topic: From piano or organ to harpsichord: discuss the essential elements of both technique and style in the development of an apprentice harpsichordist). Some may find it of interest as it touches on some previous comments. ‘ABRSM’ convention of,...
by dancarney
17 Jan 2012, 09:33
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45514

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

Yes please Colin :)
by dancarney
27 Dec 2011, 18:36
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: 180 cents sharp means a full retune?
Replies: 4
Views: 6633

Re: 180 cents sharp means a full retune?

If it were my piano, I'd leave the pitch. It'll come down eventually.
by dancarney
27 Dec 2011, 13:24
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: 180 cents sharp means a full retune?
Replies: 4
Views: 6633

Re: 180 cents sharp means a full retune?

I think you're slightly mistaken... 100 cents = semi-tone (so 180 is almost a tone sharp). If that was the case, your A49 would be close to 480Hz!! Can you confirm your calculation? I calculate that 444Hz is around 15.6 cents sharp. (Btw, 444 KHz as you say, would be impossible. It would be nearly 1...
by dancarney
18 Dec 2011, 23:17
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 38000

Re: Why learn more than one key?

A440,

Very good post; I like the descriptions very much.

I still, however, attest that I can detect colour in different keys, even in ET.
by dancarney
17 Dec 2011, 10:27
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 38000

Re: Why learn more than one key?

A440, Have you ever seen pianists approach different keys in such a way that their touch 'adds' to the identity of the key? If all keys sounded the same, they wouldn't bother, surely. Even in ET keys to me, and many other musicians, have identity. As Colin points out, Moonlight Sonata in c sounded b...
by dancarney
17 Dec 2011, 00:27
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 38000

Re: Why learn more than one key?

Quote - 'B flat major sounds no more triumphant than B major because all colour has been removed... ' This very much depends on who's playing (and who's listening). I fully understand how ET works, and yes, on paper, all colour should be removed. This is not the case in practise. Do you really think...
by dancarney
16 Dec 2011, 23:40
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 38000

Re: Why learn more than one key?

No real reason? Bollocks! Will Chopin's B-minor sonata sound the same in a different key? No. Will Busoni's Chaconne sound the same in a different key? No. I could go on... Imagine listening to a whole recital/concert with entire programmes in C/c... Wow, that'd be bland. Composers decide on a speci...
by dancarney
16 Dec 2011, 23:08
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 38000

Re: Why learn more than one key?

Why not play the music in the key that the composer wanted? :shock:
by dancarney
16 Dec 2011, 18:57
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Why learn more than one key?
Replies: 35
Views: 38000

Re: Why learn more than one key?

I have the Liszt arrangement of the Lacrimosa, and the Confutatis (not easy, but good).
by dancarney
11 Dec 2011, 18:28
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Fingers and thumbs.
Replies: 14
Views: 17958

Re: Fingers and thumbs.

Don't put your thumb on a black-note 'rule' really only applies to scales, in my opinion.
by dancarney
11 Dec 2011, 18:25
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Comparing Trills on Grands and Uprights.
Replies: 27
Views: 36977

Re: Comparing Trills on Grands and Uprights.

Yes, EACH piano will feel different; grand vs grand, or upright vs grand.

It's impossible to give an empirical answer to 'What difference of movement in centimetres would I notice in finger movements'.

Why not discuss this with your piano teacher? Or simply try a variety of pianos?
by dancarney
10 Dec 2011, 22:40
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45514

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

ET = equal temperament UT = unequal temperament An UT can be tuned easily by tuners who use an electronic tuning device (ETD). However, there are lots of UTs to choose from; they all have different characteristics. I wouldn't envisage it costing more, especially if he/she used an ETD. The only way t...
by dancarney
10 Dec 2011, 18:25
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?
Replies: 56
Views: 45514

Re: Should I ask for an unequal temperament?

Gill, why would a 'perfect scale' sound most odd?
by dancarney
09 Dec 2011, 22:12
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Trill in Mozart K 545, m. 15
Replies: 5
Views: 11113

Re: Trill in Mozart K 545, m. 15

Take a look at a Barenreiter Urtext, should be the most impartial, editorially. Listening-wise, probably can't go wrong with Alfred Brendel. Usually plays like an Urtext! 8)
by dancarney
09 Dec 2011, 21:52
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Tuning advice
Replies: 22
Views: 22924

Re: Tuning advice

Quote:

"Plants maintain humidity levels indoors at a range of 40 to 60 percent which is optimum for humans and plants".

Seems like suitable parameters. I think I may experiment at home...
by dancarney
08 Dec 2011, 22:17
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Tuning advice
Replies: 22
Views: 22924

Re: Tuning advice

Perhaps, Barrie.

However, what they do IS regulate the humidity, if kept watered. That's the aim, within reason.
by dancarney
08 Dec 2011, 18:42
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Tuning advice
Replies: 22
Views: 22924

Re: Tuning advice

Hahahaha!

'In an English country garden' springs to mind! :P
by dancarney
08 Dec 2011, 16:44
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Tuning advice
Replies: 22
Views: 22924

Re: Tuning advice

Sound advice from Colin. A bit sharp is always better than a bit flat! I recently chatted about Damp Chasers with my mentor, and he advises that they aren't any better than using small house plants. Watering it regularly will maintain a fairly constant level of humidity, and if you suffer from too m...
by dancarney
03 Dec 2011, 10:40
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Care in the Community
Replies: 3
Views: 6365

Re: Care in the Community

WHO is this? The description is utterly nonsensical. And the playing... Offensive.

I've spotted ads by this person before; they've been of a similar shocking nature.

Come on, 'fess up!
by dancarney
29 Nov 2011, 19:34
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: kind of wood
Replies: 8
Views: 10203

Re: kind of wood

The bottom panel (bottom door) will probably made out of the same wood... You could supply them with that, it might help.