Pianotech

  • 1.  Mathushek square grand restoration project?

    Posted 10-03-2018 19:28
    Is anyone out there interested in acquiring a Mathushek square grand, serial number 6801? Definitely a project--a rattling buzz in midrange, mouse-eaten dampers, etc., but cabinet looks pretty decent. It's missing the music stand, but other than that appears to be all in one piece...

    Interested in any input about what to do with such an instrument ...

    Thanks!



  • 2.  RE: Mathushek square grand restoration project?

    Posted 10-04-2018 06:30
    Andrea R. wrote:  "Interested in any input about what to do with such an instrument..."

    Cmmmmmm - make it like new again? Done well, and with a nice new set of Ronsen's, they can have a lovely warm tone. Not a performance instrument for sure, but a very welcome addition to many homes!

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Mathushek square grand restoration project?

    Posted 10-04-2018 09:07
    Mathushek made great instruments.  I have one of his Colibri models in the shop right now. Their sound may not fill a large concert hall, but they definitley were (for half a century or more) and can be today, beautiful inspiring performance instruments. Well made squares can have an intimate and exquisite tone quality that can be crystal clear and bell like if they are restored properly.......which unfortunately is impossible to do if they are restrung with the wire that is currently available. Proper leather must be used for the hammer coverings from the mid-range and up. The square grand is a gem waiting to be rediscovered, when the proper materials become available.

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    Jason Leininger
    Pittsburgh PA
    412-874-6992
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Mathushek square grand restoration project?

    Posted 10-05-2018 09:54
    Hello Jason - might you consider sharing your thoughts on wire selection for American squares?

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Mathushek square grand restoration project?

    Posted 10-05-2018 22:02
    Hi Terry,
    Unfortunately, at the moment there is no commercial source for proper wire for antique pianos in general. However, I believe there is someone currently developing it for production.  At this point, most of what I do with squares is research based.  I thoroughly clean the original strings including the bass strings (which can be made to sound good again by properly cleaning the coils.) I typically tie off broken strings. If strings are missing I replace them by experimenting with different sizes until I find one that sounds best. The leather for the hammers is a special type that I make myself. Any leather available on the market sounds dead, dull, and mutes the strings because it lacks the necessary resiliency that the original leather had, much like the same issue we see with hammer felt.

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    Jason Leininger
    Pittsburgh PA
    412-874-6992
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Mathushek square grand restoration project?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-04-2018 08:58
    Where is it?
                      



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Mathushek square grand restoration project?

    Posted 10-05-2018 11:27
    Just north of Vancouver, BC, on a peninsula accessible by ferry.


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    Andrea Routley
    Roberts Creek BC
    604-741-3390
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Mathushek square grand restoration project?

    Posted 10-05-2018 22:36
    Hello, Andrea,

    While there have been some interesting responses to your question, I
    haven't seen any pictures of the instrument. Are there any available
    that you might share? Maybe I've missed them?

    Having worked on a number of Mathushek instruments over the years, I
    know that he may well have (at least) tied CF Stein for the incredible
    variation of scale, action, and case designs. Some of these were
    surprisingly advanced for their time. So, some pictures would be very
    helpful.

    Thank you very much.

    Kind regards.

    Horace

    On 10/3/2018 4:27 PM, Andrea Routley via Piano Technicians Guild wrote:
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    > Is anyone out there interested in acquiring a Mathushek square grand, serial number 6801? Definitely a project--a rattling buzz in midrange, mouse-eaten dampers, etc., but cabinet looks pretty decent. It's missing the music stand, but other than that appears to be all in one piece...
    > Interested in any input about what to do with such an instrument ...
    > Thanks!
    >
    >
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