My new Schimmel

[kingofthepiano]

I recently bought a brand-new Schimmel upright and i have to admit it is a great piano. The only problem is that after playing even just a single note there is quite a long echo/resonance in the piano after. (maybe 10s) If i damper the string the echo continues so im guessing it must be the soundboard still creating the noise. But i have no idea about pianos so i dont know. If i am even in the same room and i shout near the piano there is some sort of echo sound.

My piano tuner said there is nothing he can do about this and it will go away once the piano has been 'played in'. Is this true? Does anyone have any advice?

Thank you.

[Axtremus]

May be it's just a matter of "playing in," may be not.

* Probably the dampers are not adjusted correctly -- can consider getting another tuner/technician for a second opinion.

* Probably the room itself is prone to echo -- treat the room, put a thick rug under the piano, use curtains and fabric wall-hangings, use upholstered furniture, drape fabric between the back of piano and the wall, etc.

Good luck.

[kingofthepiano]

Thanks you your reply. I don't think it is the dampers because if a play a bit and then dampen the strings with my hand, there is still the echo.

It could be the room but i have had another piano in the same room for years with no problem. And if you listen right up close to the piano all the sound is coming from within the piano.

[rhapsody in orange]

Hmm somehow I think my Schimmel sounds very loud compared to other pianos I've played on. I wonder if it is the piano or the place where it is placed.

[fred smalls]

That could be it! Is it on carpet, wood floor, in a large room, in a small room?? These are many factors in sound/volume/resonance. I've always wanted to play on a Schimmel.

Hmm somehow I think my Schimmel sounds very loud compared to other pianos I've played on. I wonder if it is the piano or the place where it is placed.

I really wanted one when I was shopping for pianos, but there were none in my city or neighboring cities It must be great!

[kingofthepiano]

Its actually the Soundboard thats creating the echo. I moved the piano away from the wall and tapped the soundboard a few times and it creates the same sort of 10sec echo that comes after playing. Obviously the soundboard is supposed to make the sound but is this sort of continuous echo normal?

[rhapsody in orange]

Oh my Schimmel faces the wall but it doesn't seem to produce the 'echo' effect you mentioned. It is just loud hee 

[wynnbear]

If you look down at the action from the top, you'll notice that dampers do not go all the way to the last string.  Usually only the first 70 or so notes have dampers.  The noise you are hearing is probably the sympathetic vibration of the undamped strings.  This is normal for any piano. 

I be willing to bet that the room in which you keep your Schimmel is very "live" accoustically.  Hard floor surfaces, few pieces of upholstered furniture, light drapes if any at all.  If the ringing bothers you, I'd start adding sound absorbent materials to the room.  A thick area rug or carpet, upholstered chairs or sofa, heavier drapes.  If that doesn't do it, then consider hanging a quilt on the wall behind the piano.

[eins]

I know exactly what you are talking about. I've heard the same happen in my ex's Steinway upright. Seems to be happening only with very high qualityGerman pianos. My Perzina does the same too. 

I actually don't mind. I only know it this way, so it is normal for me. Your old piano has conditioned you to not expect this high-quality performance.

 

Edited to add a few  for clarification, and look at it this way: the applause after your playing should easily last longer than 10 seconds, so the reverberation won't be heard.