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Post by keff on Jun 8, 2023 15:24:39 GMT
Morecambe Bay piano group received an email the other day from someone wishing to find a good home for their upright piano. The piano was being offered free of charge to anyone wishing to collect it and it appeared to be in very good condition despite its estimated age of between 80 to 90 years.
The problem is that these things are just too big and heavy to be collected and rehoused. One of my piano group colleagues offered the piano to a school that she knew was very much in need of a replacement piano and although they liked the piano were unable to do anything about it presumably because of difficulties of transport.
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Post by pavane on Jun 8, 2023 18:05:44 GMT
I used to own a Broadwood upright. It was also old but a nice instrument, in good condition, and it played well and had a good tone. When I was moving house there was no way I could keep it, it simply had to go. I offered it for sale, no luck, then as giveaway, still no luck, even with me offering to pay for transport. In the end, shortly before moving out, I paid some builders up the road to take it away and throw it in a skip (I paid them for the skip space). Two of them wheeled it up the road, one of them playing it as they went. Sad to see it go, but there was nothing else I could do. I presume not only transport costs make an impact, but the fact that you are taking a huge, heavy thing into your home that you in turn will probably struggle to get rid of.
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Post by Zi on Jun 8, 2023 20:07:14 GMT
I came across a number of pianos being sold by charities and I'd have loved to have given several of them a home - they're often so very beautiful. I particularly like the ones with inlay. However, Mr Z is insistent that his electric piano is a much better solution though actually getting rid of the first one when he replaced it with something better was extremely difficult. It's hard to think though that people would feel so negative about a full size harp (for example) equally difficult to fit into your house. We have a really huge art deco sideboard which weighs a ton and I bet when this house is cleared after our demise that there won't be a queue for that either! I guess at least my recorders will go out in the reasonable sized trunk they live in though. It is a shame though when piano and person willing to rehome piano can't be brought together somehow...  |
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Post by corenfa on Jun 11, 2023 15:37:09 GMT
A good digital piano can be better than a substandard acoustic one. The problem with many free instruments is that they just aren't up to much. They may not hold their tuning, or they may just be so knackered that they can't play anything fast, etc. Mr corenfa's old Challen sounds lovely, but it's very clunky.
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Post by Zi on Jun 12, 2023 7:00:13 GMT
I knew about the tuning thing but I hadn't thought about the mechanical side.  I'm afraid, I like the old pianos on aesthetics alone so I wasn't much bothered if Mr Z could play them or not. He doesn't share my fondness for them though and just sees a big heavy thing that would get in the way... |
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Post by keff on Jun 12, 2023 10:07:48 GMT
I tend to agree with Mr.Z when it comes to old pianos. Neither am I convinced with old pianos that have been restored. Acoustic pianos have to be kept impeccably in tune with efficient dampers and well regulated actions then they are a joy to play. It is astounding just how many out of tune acoustics one hears on youtube, even on some recordings one finds on internet piano fora.
So far I haven't played a digital piano which has anywhere near the same character (joie de vivre???) as an acoustic. Would like to try a Kawai NV10 S just to see how near they are getting.
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Post by Zi on Jun 12, 2023 11:16:51 GMT
keff - I'm sure you're (both) right. My reaction is an emotional one based on appearance. I'm sure if the ones I'd wanted to rescue were played, I'd be horrified. But I didn't think of them in terms of something being played. And Mr Z doesn't want any more 'lame ducks' in the house, I guess...  |
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Post by corenfa on Jul 8, 2023 21:19:57 GMT
I tend to agree with Mr.Z when it comes to old pianos. Neither am I convinced with old pianos that have been restored. Acoustic pianos have to be kept impeccably in tune with efficient dampers and well regulated actions then they are a joy to play. It is astounding just how many out of tune acoustics one hears on youtube, even on some recordings one finds on internet piano fora. So far I haven't played a digital piano which has anywhere near the same character (joie de vivre???) as an acoustic. Would like to try a Kawai NV10 S just to see how near they are getting. I've ordered a NV10S. Will report back when it arrives. |
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Post by Zi on Jul 9, 2023 9:04:39 GMT
I did a search and found this: www.kawai.co.uk/products/hybridpianos/novusseries/nv10s/It sounds absolutely fascinating - (and I'm not a pianist) so I bet the pianists will be interested in hearing what you have to say. Is there much of a wait for that kind of thing? Can't help smiling at 'wait' considering the title of this thread... yes, I like puns. |
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Post by corenfa on Jul 10, 2023 11:04:47 GMT
I did a search and found this: www.kawai.co.uk/products/hybridpianos/novusseries/nv10s/It sounds absolutely fascinating - (and I'm not a pianist) so I bet the pianists will be interested in hearing what you have to say. Is there much of a wait for that kind of thing? Can't help smiling at 'wait' considering the title of this thread... yes, I like puns. The wait is currently for delivery- the thing is already in my piano salesman's shop. He's a Kawai dealer so it was easy for him to get hold of one, don't know if there would be a wait for a non dealer to acquire one |
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Post by keff on Jul 10, 2023 12:50:57 GMT
Corenfa, do you intend to keep an acoustic piano?
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Post by corenfa on Jul 10, 2023 14:37:44 GMT
Corenfa, do you intend to keep an acoustic piano? Yes. There are some things that a digital piano can't do. I always intend to have one of each. My last digital is 14 years old and will be rehomed in August. |
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Post by keff on Jul 10, 2023 15:08:03 GMT
Corenfa, do you intend to keep an acoustic piano? Yes. There are some things that a digital piano can't do. I always intend to have one of each. My last digital is 14 years old and will be rehomed in August. I look forward to your report on the NV10S. Today it occurred to me that I had good reason for acquiring a NV10S as well as keeping my acoustic. The reason is that I could use one at the piano group I help organise. |
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Post by Zi on Jul 10, 2023 17:18:46 GMT
Do you do much with the different voices, corenfa? It's handy that you have a dealer nearby - I dread to think where Mr Z would need to go if he came over all new piano.
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Post by corenfa on Jul 10, 2023 17:26:10 GMT
Do you do much with the different voices, corenfa? It's handy that you have a dealer nearby - I dread to think where Mr Z would need to go if he came over all new piano. No- I am not into anything other than piano at the moment |
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