Old Broadwood Tuning

Posted on January 7, 2012 by benfairlightedwards

It’s fun to tune older (though not necessarily elderly!) pianos sometimes. This mid-19th century straight-strung grand was once very common. The stringing pattern – and related bridge construction / belly vibration – allows a certain purity of tone throughout the instrument: a warm bass, a clear unproblematic treble (however brittle the tone). And pianists, from classical to jazz, generally enjoy its shallow depth of touch (about 8mm).

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Steinway Service 2-Day

Posted on January 7, 2012 by benfairlightedwards

A few pics from a typical 2-day service on an untypical Steinway – I’ve only worked on a handful of American Steinways (mostly they’re German), so it was a pleasure to recently prepare this American Steinway model B grand (with its accelerated action).

– Profile of a re-profiled hammer.

– Setting the hammer checking height (prior to checking the checking in the instrument!)

 

– Typical In Situ service scenario.
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New Rollers

Posted on November 11, 2011 by benfairlightedwards

I forgot to show a photo of the process of fitting new rollers! Once any re-centring has been done, and the hammers travelled and burned (both technical terms: don’t worry, we don’t actually burn the hammers – except at a piano burning party, of course!!), then the new rollers can be glued in and lined up. It’s a nice little operation.

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Challow Park Bechstein Restored

Posted on November 2, 2011 by benfairlightedwards

The Challow Park Bechstein has been re-united with its keyboard – which has in turn been re-united with its newly felted Abel hammers. Of course, the strings and pins have been renewed, too. Here are 2 pics – one with Will Biggs, genius recording engineer, who very quickly got this old piano (1890 something) to sound warm & cosy.

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Nick Benjamin Guitar

Posted on September 9, 2011 by benfairlightedwards

Cor! Look at my nearly ready Orchestra Model guitar by Nick Benjamin. I’ve waited almost 3 years for this – and I’m hugely looking forward to writing new songs on it. It’s made of Quilted Sapele and Redwood, with Macassar Ebony bridge and fingerboard.

People ask me why I don’t make my own guitar. I reply that it  took a lot of training and experience to get as good at pianos as I am, so why mess around trying to do something I’ve little experience doing? – Instead, I asked Nick to make me one (this one’s his 120th guitar!) just as I like it…

I’ll post again as soon as I have the finished Beauty in my eager hands!

Check out Nick Benjamin’s excellent website: http://www.benjaminguitars.co.uk

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Hammer Rollers

Posted on September 6, 2011 by benfairlightedwards

Hammer rollers: clipping off!

I’m just clipping off the rollers (note how flat they are) in order to replace them with new (excellent Japanese!) ones, a photo of which I’ll post when they’re in place and nicely lined up…

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St Clements Coffee Table

Posted on September 3, 2011 by benfairlightedwards

For my new casework finishes, I experimented with a friend’s throw-away table. Following loads of careful scraping & planing to erase the damaged and dented veneers and mahogany woodwork, carving chamfers on

St Clements Coffee corner

the legs,  I blended and layered colour washes – and finished with 3 coats of  water-soluble varnish.

I call it my St Clements Coffee Table. It’s for sale: Offers in excess of £120 are welcome.

Hope you like it!

St Clements Coffee Table £120

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New Abel hammers

Posted on August 9, 2011 by benfairlightedwards

At last, the newly re-covered Abel hammers (premium grade ORGANIC FELT!) have arrived for Challow Park’s Bechstein B grand. I am delighted with how they feel (you do get a sense of a felt’s consistency and quality with the finger-squeeze test!) – and am hugely looking forward to doing the initial voicing when they and the action are re-united with the newly re-strung piano, once it is delivered from London to Challow Park.

In fact, these are the first hammer heads I’ve worked on (I’ve worked on thousands of sets) that SMELL GOOD! They smell of wool – rather than the usual musty or vaguely chemical odour.

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Studio Fazioli

Posted on May 17, 2011 by benfairlightedwards

Challow Park’s Fazioli 228

Studio fuzz!

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Piano For Sale

Posted on May 10, 2011 by benfairlightedwards

This Moore & Moore over-damper upright was my personal piano for some 20 years.

But with the need for more room in the house, I gave it an overhaul, stripped and bleached the solid oak casework (which has now returned to its natural golden colour) – and am now offering it for sale: £900. (photos below)

Meanwhile, I’m working on some fresh ways of finishing piano case-work:

Light, modern, environmentally friendly water-based varnishes over bright emulsion washes. 

I might experiment on a throw-away table… Watch this space for photos!

Before…

After!

Solid Oak Moore & Moore upright - with light oak finish: £900.


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