For those who’ve been following my nightmarish journey (at times) in pursuit of a well-regulated, singing-tone instrument, I’m happy to report that Steinway M, 1917, has been restored to optimum performance level. And it took one particular discovery to reverse a relentless tide of misfortune.

Would you believe?

A plate of lead weights found on my window sill proved to be the clincher in bringing Steinway M back from the dead.

In 1992, Dale Erwin RPT (Registered Piano Technician) performed a miracle, resuscitating the piano after a parade of Fresno technicians nearly buried my piano under a pile of misdeeds.

He completely rebuilt the instrument and perfectly “weighted” the keys. What did I know about the lead cylinders that he inserted in strategic places along the key woods. It worked, that’s all I can say, and I enjoyed years of pleasurable playing.

If I fast forward the clock to my arrival in Berkeley CA, the piano expressed a need to be voiced and regulated so it was time for a good check-up and maintenance.

Unfortunately, that’s when lady luck ran out on my lifelong musical partner. (serial number 185152)

Put it this way, an out-of-town imported technician, highly recommended, plundered the piano, and unbeknownst to me, took out a set of life-saving gray cylinders as part of his “secret,” undisclosed plan. At the time, I had no idea what he did, but months after his TIMELY (for me) departure, I found a plate of lead on my window sill that was concealed by my cellular shade. Lucky for me, on a day I chose to air out the piano room and raise the shade, out popped 20 cylinders!

Savvy enough to put 10 and 10 together, I realized these leads were once part of my beloved, though I was unsure of their precise role in the whole music-making process as I activated myriads of keys.

Soon enough I was set straight when an angel descended from the HILLS to perform a MIRACLE!

Call it LOVE in the afternoon.

David Love, Master Technician applied his immaculate skills–voicing, regulating, and adjusting the key dip, but there was ONE variable that needed attention.

I couldn’t easily navigate the keys because they were heavy to the touch. 

That’s when I had a brain storm!!! What about the plate of lead cylinders that were part of an earlier restoration, if not RESURRECTION, in 1992?

Love ROSE to the occasion. He shuffled the leads and figured out where they belonged along the chain of keys. One, orphaned and “un”-fit didn’t join his cylindrical sibs but that posed no problem.

For me, after all was done, the piano never sounded or “felt” better!

About the whole “weighty” situation:

“Weighting keys is fairly straightforward. You use either gram weights or a special tool. You set the desired downweight on the gram weights or the tool positioned on the end of the key where it’s played. Then you put the leads on top of the key and move them around until the key drops down slowly by itself under the combined weight of the tool/gram weights and the leads. Then check how much weight the key can lift on the return to rest position – should be 20 to 30 grams less than the weight it takes to “play” the key. If it is outside those parameters, there are other issues to be fixed. Mark the position of the leads once the upweight/downweight are correct. Do that with all the keys. Drill the holes and install the leads.”

LINK:

David Love’s website
http://www.davidlovepianos.com