New piano not responding correctly

[jess12121]

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a Wendl & Lung 178 grand piano (2011 ex shop model) and I've been having some trouble with the responsiveness of the notes. I contacted the company I purchased it from and discussed the problem which is: When I play certain notes they still continue to sound even though I have let go of them.

So after doing some research on the internet, I found that this is to do with regulation and hammer action but at first I thought it may have been because the piano had been left on its side whilst being delivered from the warehouse to my house but the company I purchased the piano off told me that would not affect it.

They came to do the first tuning after a month or so and they fixed the sustaining note problem. I was told that the notes weren't responding correctly because the piano was new and that it is very common with new pianos, however it is now a month later and the problem is back. Is this something that is going to continue to come back within every month or so and how can it be prevented?

The piano is played every day as I am a university music student and so it really needs to be working correctly. I'd appreciate any-ones help and advice.

Many thanks,
Jessica

[quantum]

It is absolutely normal for grand pianos to be transported on their side.  This won't harm anything. 

Sounds like the dampers are not silencing the strings properly.  Are you getting sympathetic ringing on those same strings when you play adjacent notes?  Did you notice this problem when you tried out the piano in the store?

Call the store and have them come back and fix the problem.  The problem should be stopped by a proper regulation. 

[jess12121]

Ok thanks.

Yes some notes are ringing slightly. I think that is exactly what it is. One note in particular is really bad, it sustains for a much longer time than any others. It only started to do so after I had played the same piece through a few times and then it got worse and worse. I can see the damper goes down much more slowly for this note in particular. Also if I put the sustain pedal down and let go when playing nothing, you can see the damper for that note again falls down much more slowly. It seems that the problem is only apparent on the notes I have played, any not used remain fine until I play them for a while.

I have emailed the store and asked for them to come back again. Just wanted to get some views on the issue! Thanks very much.

[jess12121]

No I played the piano in the store for half an hour or so and it seemed fine

[keys60]

Pianos are supposed to be set up properly before delivery. Once leaving the factory, they start to settle and are jostled from the move and eventually settle to their current environment. Bolts need tightening, adjustments need to be made. After delivery to your house, again, its characteristics may change due the move and resettling to its current environment. A qualified tech needs to come and inspect everything during its first tuning. That, and the summer months humidity could be taking an effect on it too. Not much getting around that unless you have a dehumidifier or the Lifesaver system installed. Wooden parts tend to swell up and stick or act sluggishly when the humidity is high. Felt bushing swell up around the flange pins from humidity and will cause "sluggishness".

[justharmony]

You said you got a 2011 shop model (which I assume means one that's been on the floor of the shop for a while, yes?) If I am assuming correctly, then the piano should have done most of its settling into the local environment long before you bought it.  Yes, there can be changes from place to place, but I suspect (I am NOT a technician) that they are not normally so great as to cause sticky dampers, and even if so, it seems that the technician who was sent to do your 1 month tuning should have been able to fix this issue to a point that it would not return. 

If this were so common a problem with "new" pianos, wouldn't you think we'd ALL be talking about it?  That's just not the case.  Something is wrong here, and I suspect it has to do with the shop not wanting to pay the technician enough to actually fix the problem.  Many shops do not pay technicians even to properly set up pianos on the floor because (so I am told) this costs money, and most people don't know the difference (sadly).  Makes good economic sense, but very bad ethically and musically. 

Was the "tuning" included in the purchase of the instrument?  It generally is, and should be, but so should a proper set-up.  I'd look carefully at the wording in your warranty or purchase agreement to see what it says.  Might help you fight for your case, and I suspect you DO have a case.  Again, I'm NOT a technician, but I don't think this is right.  Whatever you paid for you piano is good money - as good as anyone's, and your instrument should WORK.

My two cents.
JH

[jess12121]

Thanks for all of your informative replies. Yes the piano was in the shop so it had been played before I purchased it. I had the piano technician come back out on Friday and he fixed the issue but here I am 3 days later and again the same two worse notes have returned. Expect more notes will return soon but will continue to chase them up on the issue. Thanks.

[mic2005]

i have the damping problem when i got my piano. the dampers kinda not sitting down fully. technician removed all the dampers (including those not giving the problem) incase the others appear. he said the damper wire bushing hole is little tight, cause by little humid. took him 2hrs to get rebushed and the problem is gone for years now. i am sure your case is something similar.

[willvenables]

Yes, this seems like sticking or sluggish dampers, typically caused by the damper wire being overly snug in the damper wire guide rail bushings (sockets). The wire may need lubricating and the bushing reamed or ironed if it is too tight. The bushing is the red felt lining of the hole the damper wire  travels through.

This, along with slicking or sluggish keys, is typically a problem of humidity increase. The piano may have been settled in the showroom - being a 2011 ex-demo model, but the change in environment from the showroom to your home will be cause for a reaction in the piano. The wood and felt in the piano are very sensitive to changes in humidity.

If you're in the UK, then we haven't exactly had a dry spring/summer have we? Perhaps the piano showroom has good control of its humidity (50-55%) and your home is higher than 65% relative humidity - enough of an increase to cause felts and wood to expand.

Dampers are a real pain - adjustments are fiddly and time consuming - not many techs want to get in there!

The hammers are of course made of wood and felt too - so changes in humidity do affect the piano's tone.

I'm sure the dealer will send the tech out again, but do invest in a hygrometer to monitor the humidity. Try to keep the humidity consistent and around 50% for the best stability in both tuning, tone and regulation.

[kim90]

That was really terrible...try to get some new:)
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