edb@akgua.UUCP (E.D. Brooks [Emily]) (05/29/84)
In response to wisc-rsch!anderson: About upright pianos...I've only owned one in my life but I have played on many and this one I have is REALLY nice. It was built in 1923 by the M. Schulz Co. which was located in Chicago. Unfortunately, they ceased operations in 1933 like so many other businesses... Anyway, here I have a real old-time saloon piano. The top piece folds back, the music rack lifts off, the foot board lifts out (this opens the whole front of the piano exposing the hammer mechanism and the entire length of string!) and the sound is tremendous! Very bright and clear. As soon as I am rich enough to do it justice I intend to have it re-strung and the cabinet re-finished as it had suffered badly over the years prior to my parents' acquiring it. Re-strung since it will not hold A=440; it prefers about a half-tone flat. Of course, as has been pointed out, as long as I play solo only those with perfect pitch might notice. The piano shop tells me they can re-seat the existing pins by dripping glycerin down the shafts into the sound board so they will not loosen under the strain. I'm leary of doing such massive repair though since I DO NOT want to damage the tone. Anyone out there with Experience? I might even tolerate the lower pitch...I can't sing most things written for soprano or tenor anyway! To whoever mentioned that the readership here appears quite talented, I heartily agree. Music was always my first love but engineering paid better so despite the long years of instruction I opted for another field. And just as well, arthritis can play havoc with one's technique. Somehow I don't find taking pain killers a reasonable solution. Emily Brooks ...ihnp4!akgua!edb