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General questions about upright pianos 

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Dear Graham

I am trying to buy a used upright piano. There are a number of low uprights available.
Can you advice me on comfort of playing them and the big differences between low
uprights and the standard ones, including any disadvantages.

many thanks, kurt

Hi Kurt

Hi Kurt

Low-height uprights usually have a less powerful and
less clear sound (especially in the bass) than taller
uprights.

The main reason for this is due to the string length.

The taller a piano is, the longer the strings, the
richer and more resonant the sound. This is why grand
pianos have a superior sound to uprights.

Something else to consider with the lower-height
uprights is the leg room...

The keybed (this is the large section that holds the
keys) gets higher off the ground in relation to the
piano's overall height.

The taller the piano the more leg room is available.
So, if you have long legs you'll probably be better
off with a piano of 118cm or taller.

If you're average height then the low-height pianos
will be absolutely fine.

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard

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Dear Graham,

Hello!  I was surfing the internet to find a piano expert/tuner and was
referred by your shop keeper to contact you by email.
I tried a secondhand piano, *Waldstein Model No. 108*, which is about 15
years old and had been at a private home yesterday.
Although I don't know anything about Waldstein pianos, it felt alright
except bass and top sopranos quite out of tune--they said it hasn't been
tuned for quite a while.
(I do have to say though the keys felt and look a bit cheap when I lifted a
couple of them above the keyboard.  I am not sure what it's made of, but
none like the old ivory style. But is it important?)

Unfortuntely I am not a piano expert and didn't look inside the body of the
piano, as the buyer's guide suggests, I can't tell what kind of condition it
really is.
The soft pedal doesn't seem to shift well, so it's almost the same as
playing without pressing it. I wonder if it requires fixing.

Overall, I would like to receive your advice on Waldstein piano as a
make and if it's worth committing to buy it at 700 pounds--without having
looked at inside--and if bought, how much tuning and moving would cost
altogether?  The piano is in Edgware, and we are in post code N8, near
Hornsey station.

Thank you very much for your time in advance.

Kind regards,
Sarah

Reply/ Hi Sarah

Waldstein pianos are made in China (unfortunately not
Germany, as the name suggests)...

Waldstein isn't a make I usually recommend, especially
when they're second hand.

You'd be better off with a make such as: Yamaha,
Kemble, Classenti, Bohemia or Kawai.

Apart from being more well known, the above pianos
have a fuller, more resonant sound, and responsive
key touch. And their superior build quality offers
a longer, trouble free life.

The Classenti UP-112 is one piano I particularly
recommend...

It has a beautiful sound; a rich tone in the bass
and warm in the middle. The treble is crisp and
bright, but not overly bright like most pianos
from Japan and the Far East.

The Classenti is also a piano that will take
your children up to grade 8 and beyond.

The most important parts of the mechanism are
produced in Germany and other parts of Europe...

The more expensive materials do push the price
up a bit, but at least you can be sure you'll
get a quality piano with a great sound.

The Classenti is certainly the best value for
money around the £2,000 mark.

You can read more about it here:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/classenti-up-112-polished-ebony.html

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard

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How can I make my piano less noisy? My neighbours are complaining and I do not know what to do.Please help.

Charlotte

Reply/ Hi Charlotte

The easiest thing to do is to stuff some thick blankets between the wall and the back of your piano.
This will deaden the sound.

Most of the sound on an upright piano comes out of the back.

This should make a significant difference.

And it's free to do!

Regards

Graham Howard

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