Pianotech

  • 1.  pitch for 1860 Bosendorfer

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-28-2023 10:16

    Greetings,

    I have been asked to service an 1860 Bosendorfer. That is all of the information I have about the piano until I see it.

    Does anyone know what pitch this should be tuned too?

    Best,

    Alan



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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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  • 2.  RE: pitch for 1860 Bosendorfer

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-28-2023 10:37
    Most forks in central and Eastern Europe were between A-445 and A-460.

    Most Paris forks were closer to A-435.

    London was also often high too.

    You may become a musical pitch scholar with Ed Swenson's article, Alan.

    The US data is a little incomplete but you are asking about Bosendorfer....

    Regards,

    Bill

    Bill Shull, RPT, M.Mus.
    www.shullpiano.com
    www.periodpiano.org
    909 796-4226

    Sent from my iPhone





  • 3.  RE: pitch for 1860 Bosendorfer

    Posted 02-28-2023 11:07
    Thanks so much for the Swenson article. WOW!

    I use 440 on the Emerich Betsy 1854, copied by Streicher and the basis
    for Bosendorfer

    If it's the first time you've visited, be prepared for some judicious
    CA treatment on a few pins or some hairline cracks in the pinblock.

    Best wishes

    David P
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    David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
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    +44 1342 850594




  • 4.  RE: pitch for 1860 Bosendorfer

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-28-2023 12:02

    From what I believe I was told by Yamaha, all Bösendorfer pianos have always been, and continue to be, scaled to 443. I service several in peoples homes, newer ones, of course, but when I bring them up to 443 the owners not only notice but prefer the difference in tone. It's actually quite a dramatic improvement. 



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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 5.  RE: pitch for 1860 Bosendorfer

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-28-2023 12:47

    I agree!

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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