I was offered a Bechstein model 7 for cheap. The owner said the pinblock had been replaced recently, but I see tiny cracks running horizontally along the tuning pins. He offers a two year guarantee. Is he trying to fool me?
I've seen cracks in ancient un-restored Bechsteins (grands) that have not caused the pins to loosen and I've guessed that these might have been only in the top ply/layer of the block, but I'd be very wary of this and would not buy a piano with what's claimed to be a new pinblock (wrestplank) revealing cracks, no matter how slight. Replacing the block is very expensive so the "cheap" piano might not be inexpensive at all. If the pins are holding despite the cracks, they might be doped with some product that could hold them only temporarily - perhaps for two years.
To replace single strings I just turn the pin 3 times and wind it back. So I don`t take the pin out, it still holds. The other method is to put in pintite and put the same back in. As a restorer I try to avoid mixing pins! The person who will restring the piano wont`t be happy otherwise...
Thank you for sharing knowledge.
Nice work, as usual.
I was offered a Bechstein model 7 for cheap. The owner said the pinblock had been replaced recently, but I see tiny cracks running horizontally along the tuning pins. He offers a two year guarantee. Is he trying to fool me?
I've seen cracks in ancient un-restored Bechsteins (grands) that have not caused the pins to loosen and I've guessed that these might have been only in the top ply/layer of the block, but I'd be very wary of this and would not buy a piano with what's claimed to be a new pinblock (wrestplank) revealing cracks, no matter how slight. Replacing the block is very expensive so the "cheap" piano might not be inexpensive at all. If the pins are holding despite the cracks, they might be doped with some product that could hold them only temporarily - perhaps for two years.
To replace single strings I just turn the pin 3 times and wind it back. So I don`t take the pin out, it still holds. The other method is to put in pintite and put the same back in. As a restorer I try to avoid mixing pins! The person who will restring the piano wont`t be happy otherwise...
Yes, I agree, often the pin doesn't need replacing so I understand your comment. Marcus