Category Archives: Technical

Short articles on various aspects of repair, maintenance, tuning, voicing, etc.

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Technical | Tagged | Comments Off on Old Broadwood Tuning

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Technical | Tagged | Comments Off on Steinway Service 2-Day

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Technical | Tagged | Comments Off on New Rollers

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Technical | Tagged | Comments Off on Challow Park Bechstein Restored

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Technical | Tagged | Comments Off on Nick Benjamin Guitar

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…

Posted in Technical | Tagged | Comments Off on Hammer Rollers

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Technical | Tagged | Comments Off on New Abel hammers

Studio Fazioli

Posted on May 17, 2011 by benfairlightedwards

Challow Park’s Fazioli 228

Posted in Technical | Tagged | Comments Off on Studio Fazioli