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Colin Nicholson

If your tutorial book does not have specific left hand exercises, then I recommend buying "Piano Lessons Book 1" by Harewood & Waterman (published by Faber).... they deal with left hand shortly after right hand starts. Be patient though, LH takes MUCH longer to develop, and as your tut...

Colin Nicholson

If you get a tuner to assess it/ check it over, part of their job is to randomly tune & test a few tuning pins for stability and pin torque - this part is vital.... so.... the piano must be assembled fully back into its "upright" position with pedal lyre attached and plenty space allow...

Colin Nicholson

how's the project going?
any new developments/ near completion?

Colin Nicholson

AB, What is your budget? maximum spend? Charles Cadby are a very old grand piano manufacturer, at least 100 years old, according to my listings. Tread very carefully with this one, and many are probably not tuneable, and require major restoration (i.e. re-stringing/ new wrest plank). Last year I att...

Colin Nicholson

There are things you can teach yourself in a book, the basics such as note naming, relating letters to keyboard, rhythm and other theoretical related subjects showing you "how to do it".... however, a book cannot do the following: 1. Correct or amend bad habits (i.e. using wrong fingers) 2...

Colin Nicholson

If you are considering a full restoration (i.e. mechanism/ keys/ pedals/ strings), your piano should be assessed first to see if it is restorable - this will depend on the condition of the original wrest plank, soundboard/ bridges and other structural parts/ type of mechanism. Some restorers will ch...

Colin Nicholson

Thanks for your answer, may I ask if you know anything about that make of piano please? The Gubruder Sohne ( which has been completely revamped, would that make much different to the price you would pay for it?) Many thanks send us some photos, remove front panel, then we can see it, explained here...

Colin Nicholson

If you buy from a dealer, a lot less hassle - they usually can arrange carriage of newer piano, and possibly take your old piano away at the same time (might even get a few quid part X). Also ask about warranty/ follow-up tuning after delivery. If done privately, you may never get rid of the old pia...

Colin Nicholson

At the top treble end, all piano strings start their formation vertically, or slightly oblique (right to left) for straight-strung or over-strung - so impossible to say from the photo if straight-strung, but given the look of the piano, it SEEMS to be s.s. (as I previously said). The over-strung for...

Colin Nicholson

I have over 10 listings of Wagner, so best to ignore the name altogether. Cannot comment on whether it is worth buying - depends on price and your budget. With old pianos like this, there are the four deadly sins to consider:- 1. Straight-strung (some are OK to tune and sound good) -- over-strung be...

Colin Nicholson

Hi Sue, According to my records in the Pierce Piano Atlas book, Ajello & Sons were a company in their own right, based at: Leestone Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, UK. (Est. 1862) The action makers Schwander were a separate company who provided mechanisms for Ajello and other makers. If the seria...

Colin Nicholson

All the names you suggest are good.
Also have a look at the Kawai range, you could buy a new K5 Kawai for that money (or very near).

Colin Nicholson

As stated in the blue header above, valuations (no matter how estimated or rough) cannot be given on this forum for specific pianos and models. You will need to contact a digital piano technician/ expert (who buys and sells), or contact a piano shop/ retailer who specialise in this, and they may nee...

Colin Nicholson

Hi Adeline, The price will reflect in its condition and any previous work done to it internally aswell.... so a single photo is not sufficient, just to say the exterior looks genuine and probably in good condition. No one can guess it's true value - you would need to get it inspected - most importan...

Colin Nicholson

Please read the following
http://www.piano-tuners.org/piano-forum ... 981#p44981

Colin Nicholson

Certainly causing a stir this piano! I think there were (or are) wrest plank problems - top right edge seems to be OK.... flush with top lid, but in the middle, I can see it has warped forwards and top edge of plank can be seen .... mmm. (recent photo) About 16-18 tons of pressure on those strings p...

Colin Nicholson

I agree Bill, spacing of bass strings and the two centre domed screws (wrest plank) look in an odd place. The only thing I can think is perhaps the strings & wrest pins were removed at some stage to allow the added screws, possibly to strengthen the wrest plank in the middle if separating or bow...

Colin Nicholson

Hi Suzi The serial number suggests 1937, and fits into the Art Deco period/ walnut style & chrome fittings. Some unusual features which look good. Not sure if the ashtrays are original? !! Berry were established in 1888, and their factory was based in The Grove Crouch End, London, and the compan...

Colin Nicholson

Hi Belle, We have a good team of experts on this forum who may reply at certain times with interest and different opinions and advice - watch this space!. This is just my opinion...... I'm sorry to hear that your cottage piano cannot be tuned easily anymore :( , and you are faced with a dilemma of w...

Colin Nicholson

For anyone else interested in some more info.... Probably best not to remove the action for now - in searching for date stamps / markings / action numbers etc. Bill will suggest this for further clues, but only if safe to do so - in his defence. A closer inspection / re-thinking my thoughts..... I s...

Colin Nicholson

Without hearing, playing and seeing the condition of the hammers, only general advice can be offered here. As your technician has had first-hand experience playing the piano, and (hopefully) removing the action to inspect the face of the hammers - your decision may probably lie there. 1. Re-toning c...

Colin Nicholson

It may be a suggestion to get a tuner out before purchase, to see if it is tuneable - a tuner would randomly test a few pins to ensure they are tight for future tunings. The reason I say this is by the photo, some of the extreme left bass tuning pins (top ones of each pair) appear to have chalk mark...

Colin Nicholson

Fully agree with Vernon -
I think it's best now you contact a good tech to sort it out.
Let us know how you get on

Colin

Colin Nicholson

try this
http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mt ... =MN0170490

first page shown as a sample, then pay, then print yourself.
Key of the music can also be changed

example above from Frozen music.

Colin Nicholson

After doing a bunch of research, I found out that the problem is the felt for the jack regulating button is too hard. I fluffed it up using a couple of small screw drivers and it temporarily fixed the problem before returning to its normal state after 15 minutes. I found this youtube video (https:/...

Colin Nicholson

This occurs on all of the keys including the ones without a damper. Some people have suggested that it's the hammer rail. I pulled out the action (my very first time doing it). Good news: the piano didn't blow up. Bad news: it's still making the same sound. I tightened all of the screws for the ham...

Colin Nicholson

Could be one of the following:- 1. Damper or jack slap felt old & compact/ brittle (if previously damp then dried out) 2. Worn key slip rail felt / not adjusted at correct height / worn key bushings 3. Back check leather / damper spoon felt worn 4. Possible insect damage causing materials to be ...

Colin Nicholson

Please refer to http://www.piano-tuners.org/piano-forum ... 976#p44976

Colin Nicholson

Weissbrod seem to be well built pianos, but the grand piano I attempted to tune (about 3 years ago), sadly, was far from "fine". A local arts council near the university went out and bought this 6ft grand Weissbrod, and I believe the secretary of the arts council, who knew nothing about pi...

Colin Nicholson

Nobody knows about later surprises, even after an inspection - that's just on its current condition. A piano already over 50 years old will deteriorate like anything else, so a thorough "paid" inspection is the way forward....that might reveal any nasty surprises like loose tuning pins. Al...

Colin Nicholson

No one in the world can comment on an individual piano, without seeing it, or having it fully inspected (internally) and partly tuned to assess its condition for tuning torque and stability. Most Yamahas I have tuned & played have been fine - good pianos in general. Ask to see all tuning & r...

Colin Nicholson

This is not a mini Eavestaff, and is a standard console upright, so a standard tuning is fine. I would suggest you contact a piano removal company to move it (not a general furniture removal). Weight will be around 180 kilos. Yes, quite heavy if DIY lifting with no castors, but with a removal compan...

Colin Nicholson

On your first photo - (tuning pins & serial number), I noticed some white chalk or white paint on the end of the first tuning pin? (or it may just be a reflection of the flash light) .... are there any more like this with white marks on, and how many?
If so, let me know.

Colin

Colin Nicholson

These mini pianos were popular in the 1930s with the mechanism at the back, and I think every piano tuner/technician on this forum will have tuned one in their career.... and probably "well remembered" Some still can be tuned today, but many cannot be tuned easily - and come with risks. I ...

Colin Nicholson

good luck with the Fazer

Colin Nicholson

When I assess grand and upright pianos for customers, say before a purchase or for restoration reasons, I ask for photos first before a call-out. I often just receive the fancy display/ shop floor photos that everyone wants to see.... and often is the case, they look like pianos with no "knicke...

Colin Nicholson

Hi grabba, Welcome to the forum. The serial number and date is correct & matching according to my book, but other numbers are often a mystery to everyone, and don't always relate to anything. They may be a stock or parts number, unique to the Rogers factory workers back in those days, and someti...

Colin Nicholson

Some more info.... Depending on if you want perfection or not and for all hammers to be perfectly level, and all at the same height (bass hammers will be higher on an over-strung piano) - you need to purchase a grand piano regulating rack; a device that is assembled and adjusted to simulate the stri...

Colin Nicholson

This is a common problem for the DIY enthusiast, and if you upset the regulation process mid way, you are best contacting a professional to do the job. The repetition springs have been regulated at slightly different tensions, some with more tension - which will allow the hammer to rise above the re...

Colin Nicholson

John Broadwood pianos have a good reputation for sound quality, build, and well made.... the college I attended was named "The Broadwood College" .... and I have all the serial numbers and dates for them. If you find out the serial number (usually under the bass strings), it can be accurat...

Colin Nicholson

Not barless I think - has a cast frame bar (strut) running diagonally alongside the RH bass strings - can be seen to the left of music stand. Ask the owner to confirm or lower music rest. Needs to be photographed from the right side looking into the strings and cast frame area - like these >> Here a...

Colin Nicholson

at college, we used to use about 3 tuning forks between 6 of us.... had to wrap handle in masking tape, so we didn't catch their disease

Colin Nicholson

I occasionally use my app just to check Middle C/ odd notes, and for new customers, they lean over my shoulder in hope of the green light! I would never reply on an app to tune a unison, or octaves, unless the string was dodgy. My best friend of course is the humble tuning fork C523.3Hz. This is the...

Colin Nicholson

PianoMike, I noticed you said you tried tuning with a tuning "hammer"? .... is this the T - shaped tool, handle at each end/ steel tipped and a star socket? If so, you are best buying a tuning LEVER ( L shaped).... much less effort required, but still a good technique required to keep the ...

Colin Nicholson

Practise keyboards are apparently called 'Virgils'

Colin Nicholson

I'm not sure if this is a reliable way to date a C&C, but someone in the USA emailed me with some information which almost looks like this piano. Added to that, was a diagram of the mechanism, dated about 1884, and supposedly the design of the parts and "swan" shaped springs put it clo...

Colin Nicholson

Hi there... I have discovered during my piano teaching career (over 30 years) that when pupils practise at home on their old "beginner" piano (usually over-damped), then suddenly switch to my K5 Kawai during lessons, their progress is only very marginal, and generally speaking they get a g...

Colin Nicholson

Yes I have come across that name just like many others that claim they specialise in Steinway & other makes.... but I would tread carefully. Only Steinway & Sons specialise in Steinway pianos. I myself have restored several Steinway grands and other well known names, but I couldn't say I spe...

Colin Nicholson

send links for both pianos pls. showing advert/ condition & prices.

Colin Nicholson

Hi Thank you for your post. I'm not familiar with the name 'Vosemar' , nor registered in my piano atlas book, but I have come across their name before many years ago, having an unusual font on the fallboard like Chinese. T Beech of Preston were piano retailers (shop) founded in 1868 who sold their p...

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