My Piano is ruining my life!!!

[steve jones]

My piano is so bad, and today I realised just how bad.

Iv been working on this Mozart movement for about a week, its within my grasp but a couple of scale passages have been thwarting me. So some reason I decided to try it an octave lower. In theory this should be harder as the action will be heavier, yet I found myself playing it perfectly with ease.

On closer inspection, it seems that the top couple of octaves on my piano are completely shot. The action is VERY uneven, which I believe is responsible for my problems with this passage. But also, notes ring out for several seconds, almost as if the pedal were compressed. Notes sound thin and almost bell like.

So for top end is gone, virtually unplayble. Then there's the bottom, which is even worse. The tuning has gone to the point where an octave is probably a quarter tone out, at least. And its so dull and thin...

I think you get the message...

Problem is, how the hell do I afford a decent instrument? Im past the age of being able to sap from my parents. The shelled out enough money for my guitars, I couldnt ask them for more (and I certainly wouldnt get a positive response even if I did).

Is it at all possible to get a 'playable' instrument cheap these days? By playable, I mean, is generally in tune, has an exceptably even action. Doesnt have to sound or look special.

I have some contacts with UK distributions, but I cant afford a new piano full stop, even if it is at trade. Literally, £500 is the roof.

What do you guys reckon? Should I stick to playing tin whistle? 

Cheers,

Steve Jones

[cy_shuster]

See if you can rent a decent piano.  Or find a nearby university or church piano where you might practice.

Or get an estimate from your technician on the cost of fixing yours up.  It might be less than you fear.

--Cy--

[steve jones]

Hmmm, appreciate the suggestions but I dont think that will help me. I need a piano in my studio, no doubt. Being able to play when ever the feeling takes me if the basis of my whole practice regime.

I might be able to get a techy to tune my piano up, but I fear it is so far gone thats its pretty much beyond repair (upto a decent level anyway). But never the less, I will see if I can get a quote for the work.

Cheers,

SJ

[allthumbs]

I feel your pain Steve. Playing on a poor quality instrument can hinder your development and enthusiasm.

I would start saving your money and before you know it, you will have the money to buy a half decent instrument or at least put a good down payment on one.

BTW, I play guitar as well, what make of instruments do you have. I have 2 Larrivee guitars, one 6 and one 12 string. Nice instruments.


Cheers

allthumbs

[steve jones]

Yeah, thats it. Having never played another instrument, Iv have no idea just how bad this thing really is! Actually, Im scared to try a good quality piano as it'll probably finish me off for good.

Guitar wise I fair a little better. I have a Les Paul Standard which I run through a Marshall Bluesbreaker. Some I have a Line6 Pod XT in line so I can quickly dial up various sounds, while retaining the valve loveliness of the JTM45 based circuitary. Sounds nice, just very loud! I also have a 62 Strat (the US reissue version, not an original 62!) which goes into either the Marshall of a Fender Blues Deluxe.

These are my main axes. I do have a couple of others - a couple of Yamaha acoustics and bass (cheap ones), a knackered Ibanez...

Mad thing is, I never had a good quality classical. This was the style I learnt first, and quit at age 13, then returned to it at 18. Thing was, when I returned to it, Id just shelled out on the Les Paul so had to fish out the old student classical. At one point I seriously had my eye of a nice Quenca, but alas couldnt afford it.

For a while I worked in the music instrument business. The company I worked for belonged to my uncle - he started up in the 70's I believe, shipping second hand instruments back from the US (to the UK), restoring, then selling for a markup. We had so many cool guitars, and not just new stuff (although we usually had Taylors, Martins, old Guilds etc). The really special stuff was like the ultra rare vintage Banjos, resonators and the like. I believe he still have a vintage Gibson Harp guitar - ever seen one of those? So weird!

Nowadays I dont play much guitar. I kind took it to the level where I really didnt want anymore. I could have probably contiuned and developed further, but the love was gone unfortunately. Still have a little jam now and again but nothing to shout about. Im far more into the piano - new instrument, new music, fresh challenges!

SJ

[Axtremus]

Digital piano/keyboard.

[steve jones]

An option, but I never liked the idea of sample based instrument. Id rather have an acoustic, even if it had to be a lower quality.

[gruffalo]

if you really love piano, then you will do what i do. find several places that have pianos ie. a music college, a church, a studio. so you can always go somewhere. i have the same thing. i have a rubbish piano, but i do what i can to play on a good piano. you should take what opportunities you can to play on good pianos and also you should feel privelidged that you at least have a piano. dont be spoilt and say that it is ruining your life because there are many people who have the same problem and many who are worse off then you. so you can get up and go somewhere, or you can make do with what you got. Your regime doesnt sound very good if it is just "play when i feel like it".

Gruff

[arensky]

Sounds like the action needs regulation; cy shuster or gfiore can explain this better than me, but it will align all the individual keys and their mechanisms so they work evenly together.

And you need a tuning. O ften (though not in this case from the sound of it) merely tuning a piano will improve your playing, because your fingers respond as they should to the CORRECT pitches, not an off centered or out of tune note. The brain plays a role in this, it doesn't send the right message to your fingers if the note is not correct. You've played a lot of guitar if I recall correctly so you are probably sensitive to this, having had to tune your own instrument.

[gruffalo]

what if you get a tech to sort the keys out? your local tech should be able to regulate the keys, weight them, or he can suggest several things that he can do for a do-able price. it would probably be around $250-$350 depending on the tech, where you live etc. way cheaper than buying another piano.

[cy_shuster]

Here's info on regulation:
https://ptg.org/resources-pianoOwners.php#Brochures

--Cy--

[steve jones]

 Your regime doesnt sound very good if it is just "play when i feel like it".

Its the way Iv always worked Gruff, and it hasnt done me wrong yet. I usually get at least two or three GOOD practice sessions in a day. Point is, I hate having to sit and practice at a precise time for a precise period. This goes totally against the grain imo - how do I know that I'll feel inspired to play then? No point in practicing if your not in the 'mode'.


As for your other comments, understand that I am ofcourse exaggerating with this title. Ofcourse my piano is not 'ruining my life'. Im sure if I had no arms or legs Id be finding it much more difficult, lol.

What I do mean is that Im finding this instrument to be terribly frustrating. Its like driving a car that is total nail - the clutch is knackered, the steering is heavy, toque is down etc. I'll still get from A to B, but it'll be a battle to do so. Now, if I could just part ex my banger for a relatively new Fiesta pop, then Id be in business!

Ya get me, Gruff ole boy?

The practice at a church or studio idea is not practical unfortunately. I can practice on this thing for now, but its making things very hard. You have to play to this piano to really understand where Im coming from 

SJ

[steve jones]

Sounds like the action needs regulation; cy shuster or gfiore can explain this better than me, but it will align all the individual keys and their mechanisms so they work evenly together.

And you need a tuning. O ften (though not in this case from the sound of it) merely tuning a piano will improve your playing, because your fingers respond as they should to the CORRECT pitches, not an off centered or out of tune note. The brain plays a role in this, it doesn't send the right message to your fingers if the note is not correct. You've played a lot of guitar if I recall correctly so you are probably sensitive to this, having had to tune your own instrument.

Indeed, and they can be pain in the 'you know what'. Then again, I have to be thankful that I didnt choose to play Cello... those guys really have their work cut out in that respect!

Let me ask you, what do you think is causing the upper notes to ring out (with a long release decay)? This is very odd. And the worse out hammers make it worse by giving it a bell like tone. My piano sounds more like a glock in the upper register, lol.

Thanks for the advice.


cy_shuster,

Thanks for the link fella, appreciated.

Cheers,

SJ

[gruffalo]

Its the way Iv always worked Gruff, and it hasnt done me wrong yet. I usually get at least two or three GOOD practice sessions in a day. Point is, I hate having to sit and practice at a precise time for a precise period. This goes totally against the grain imo - how do I know that I'll feel inspired to play then? No point in practicing if your not in the 'mode'.


As for your other comments, understand that I am ofcourse exaggerating with this title. Ofcourse my piano is not 'ruining my life'. Im sure if I had no arms or legs Id be finding it much more difficult, lol.

What I do mean is that Im finding this instrument to be terribly frustrating. Its like driving a car that is total nail - the clutch is knackered, the steering is heavy, toque is down etc. I'll still get from A to B, but it'll be a battle to do so. Now, if I could just part ex my banger for a relatively new Fiesta pop, then Id be in business!

Ya get me, Gruff ole boy?

The practice at a church or studio idea is not practical unfortunately. I can practice on this thing for now, but its making things very hard. You have to play to this piano to really understand where Im coming from 

SJ

i know you werent exaggerating, but there are plenty of people (including me) who work on old bangers, so you can just make do. a piano is a piano, and if you arent satisfied enough with what you got, then you will not get very far (in the piano world). i dont want to sound harsh. however, you know what i always say (well, you probably dont) but, if youve got the cash then why not. go for it, if you can afford a better piano. i wish i could, but i dont really think much of it that i cant.

Gruff

[steve jones]

I wish I could too!

The problem is that the action on this piano is really causing me problems. At the top end it is seriously uneven, and I fear that I am going to do my technical development some serious harm if I dont do something about it.

But I might have found a solution - a teacher friend of mine has given her techy a call and he's going to work some Kung Fu on it next week. If he can get the action back to a playable level, then I'll be quite happy.


" a piano is a piano, and if you arent satisfied enough with what you got, then you will not get very far (in the piano world)"

Not sure what you mean there. Iv always found that dissatisfaction is the one most essential requisite in development in anything. The second you become satisfied with your playing is the very moment you loose the battle imo. And its only natural that this would extend to your equipment, as this is an integral part the sound you'll produce... right?

If I were racing motor bikes, Id probably pining over a brand new KX250, as I'd know that I could perform better and clock faster on this machine. Same goes with my piano (which is in serious need of a full overhaul!).

SJ