Steinway restoration by Steinway vs. by independent technician

[drjmc]

Yes, I am in a bit of quandry about this age old question.  I am looking at a Steinway Long A from the 1920s.  It was totally rebuilt (new everything) in the Steinway restoration factory on Long Island in 2005.  A technician suggested that i have it checked out at its location, since Steinway was "not always using the best parts" for restoration until just a few years ago -- and he wasn't sure if they switched to better parts before or after 2005.  I am going to search for a technician in the state where the piano is located, but in the meantime, for my own edification, can anyone comment on his comment?  Also, I understand that while the Hamburg Steinways use Renner actions, the U.S. ones do not.  Difference?  Should I care? Once I have established that the piano is in excellent condition (whatever that means), I will go and play it before purchasing.  I am fussy about the action and the voice.  i assume a good technician could adjust both to my liking. P.S. The complete restoration was verified, in writing, by Steinway.

[pianolive]

I do not understand why your tech would say something like that.
My experience from S&S here in Europe is that we use the same parts as those used in production. There are no special parts for restoration.
Why should they do that? It would ruin their own reputation.
Have you got on paper exactly what has been done to the piano?

[drjmc]

Thank you for your comments.  I believe the technician might have been referring to the action-- that is why I mentioned I understood that Hamburg (and independent technicians in the US) use Renner, but that Steinway does not.  He could not have been referring to the "teflon" action used in the 60's when CBS bought out Steinway.  They discontinued their use ages ago.

[keys60]

The biggest competition to Steinway is the independent tech/restorer. Some can actually do a better job and charge less for the piano. Then again, some restorers think they can do as good a job and can't. Best advice is to know who you are dealing with and have an independent well known tech check the piano out for you.

[hbofinger]

I would forget about who rebuilt the piano, documentation, and so on, and simply play the thing and see how much you really like it. And then have an independent tech give it a thorough look.

Why do I say this? Because so much is being said about wow this and wow that on Steinways, and yet there are oh so many duds in the US market, regardless of age and who rebuilt it or if it is brand new out of the factory.

I just had a concert pianist from Hamburg stay at my house last week. He has been helping a University make a purchase of a Steinway at Steinway's showroom in New York. His assessment is very simple: You just cannot compare New York to Hamburg, they are very different instruments. Though Steinway here in the U.S. does not want you to know that.

Now, if you really like that A you found, rather than look at the pedigree of the rebuild and so on, just have a tech see that there is nothing obvious wrong with it, and go for it. Especially since really good Steinways have become rare to find indeed.....

[pianolive]

You just cannot compare New York to Hamburg, they are very different instruments.

This is correct only when it comes to after WW2 instruments. Before that, and with an instrument from 1921, the parts can be either from NY or Hamburg. In those days parts were sent both ways NY <-> Hamburg. Some years ago a very special model was sent to NY from Europe for restoration  because everybody thought it was build there. It turned out that it was build in Hamburg. It can be very difficult to see any difference between these old Steinways.

It is indeed interesting to know what has been done to the piano, also because it wil show what has not been done.

Naturally, the final judgement is done by the person who will buy it.