Schumann Nordisches Lied on Bechstein No. 5796

[iumonito]

Same principle, this is the "before" recording.  I am sorry I didn't take the repeat.  I will when I do the "after" in a few weeks.

[pianistimo]

really like the bass.  the strings on a bechstein from this period - they must be good!  or did you have it restrung by the early keyboard agency?  what did you do about any loose wrest pins?  stick larger ones in?

[iumonito]

Hi Susan,

The wrestplank was replaced about 20 years ago.  It holds tune just fine.  The hammers must have been either refelt or replaced (I hope refelt, but it is too early to know, I am hopeful because the dampers were refelt rather than replaced and the soundboard shimmed rather than replaced, so it bodes well)), and it must have been restrung because it has some funny-looking red felt all over the place (Bechstein of this period used light blue felt).

As far as I know pianowire at the time was very similar to Roslau blue.  I like the scale a lot, very transparent.

On the question of larger tuning pins, I am of the school that you have to redrill the hole and put the right pin for the bite.  Otherwise when it gets humid the plank will crack, and then there is nothing else but replacing the plank.

[pianistimo]

thanks for explaining all this - and the other thread, too.  sounds like you are having fun and that you know how to keep bad things from happening to this piano.  for one, not playing too loud on it.  hmm.  i never realized that the singing tone of some pianos was graded to a lesser dynamic - but it makes great sense.  now, when i test out pianos - i will remember this.

[iumonito]

Here you go.  I would love to hear your impressions.

I should again explain that the recording equipment, mic placement, pianist and level of preparation are the same in both recordings.  The room in recording one is much bigger, but mic placement I think would make that not a material difference.  To my ears each recording reflects fairly how the piano sounded in each occasion, including volume.

[pianistimo]

that piano has soul!  and, i saw the pic you put in the other thread of a bechstein similar to yours.  how beautiful.  you must be very happy.  when you play medium (mezzo forte) to piano dynamics - i like it the best.  somehow only the bass sounds as good to me when played at forte dynamic.  basically, whomever has had the piano before you probably worked the middle and treble ranges much more. ?  if i were you and making recordings - i'd knock the dynamics down a notch in every place of the score - and then - when the cd's are made - have the audio guy knock them up again.  this way -you get the good tone you are speaking of - which i do hear in the mezzo forte to softest ranges.  sometimes this make playing easier anyways - and it seems like a salon type of piano, too.  can you put it in a room with a lot of padding on the walls?  seems to me that the exact type of space and sound enhancement in a room should match the quality of the piano.  i think a fairly small room with a floor to ceiling curtain on one wall and padding on some of the others would keep the sound quality staying around the audience and piano well.  seems that in a large room this piano would lose distinction.