I got this Baldwin Hamilton from the 1990s,,,,ya I know,
Lot's of writing on the keys, it was at a Waldorf school and they had finally had it with the piano.
I fixed a bunch of things, loose hammers etc. and took it to Burning Man.
Sluggish keys,, easing helped but I just found the problem.
Seems like lint got in the bushing cloth and was not the ideal surface. I suspect it was from the cheap front rail punchings. I cleaned a few but it needed new bushings.
The problem is they didn't cut the space for the bushing cloth to fold over and be flush with the key bottom. The mortises are huge and the cloth is thick. I feel it will affect the feel of the aftertouch. So I did one side cutting it flush with no fold. Then I had second thoughts.
What importance will that have?
Lifespan? Feel?
You might ask, does it matter at Burning Man? Our piano and open mic'd stage is well known. We have a heart doctor and Nuclear Engineer, a movie star in camp. Alex De Grassi did a set on our stage. Bonnie Raitts brother and his friends were over a lot and who knows what I missed. Lot's of jazz musicians,, classical. I was told we advertised the best piano on the Playa. I said it doesn't have the name Steinway on it but I'd rather have a Yamaha,,,,
Just trying to keep my standards at the highest levels.
Thank You
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Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
209-728-2163
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