What causes that old piano sound?

Question

I'm thinking about buying an acoustic upright piano. I found one on craigslist, but wasn't incredibly impressed. For one thing, it was pretty out of tune. That's not that big of a deal - I can get it tuned or get my own tools and do it myself.
The bigger issue is that it sort of has that "old piano" tone - that tone you always hear when you play a broken down piano which has been sitting in grandma's basement for thirty years; sort of mellower and more twangy than the crisp note of a new Steinway.
What causes this tone? My initial thought was that it just needs to be tuned, but my fear is that if I tune it but keep the same strings, it will have basically the same tone. Does it just need to be restrung, period? Or could there be qualities of the metal frame or wood casing which have more to do with the tone than the age/quality of the strings?

Answer 1

There can be too many reasons for 'old piano' sound to list. It's often just condition as the others said, particularly in the more 'decomposable' parts like the felt. Storage conditions can ruin a piano quickly. The bridges can crack (that a big cause), The soundboard can swell or shrink. Tons of reasons. Some pianos were actually designed to have a 'parlour'; sound that was quieter and more muted for use in the home.



Always have a piano checked by a qualified tech before buying. But even that is no guarantee. To be honest, I would sooner spend $1000 on a decent digital than risk the same money repairing any basement piano. At least the digital is a known quantity. You never really know what you'll find when you start tearing into an old piano in grandma's cellar.

Answer 2

There are three strings to each note in the mid and upper registers. Part of the old piano sound comes from the three not being in tune with one another.

Answer 3

you dont need to pay for such pianos



plenty of people giving them away



the costs then include moving, tuning and any remedial work



my advice to anyone who cant afford or justify a quality piano is to buy a digital piano



any of the Yamaha P series, new or used are fine



full size weighted key digital pianos are great - you can even build them into a cabinet if youre desperate for it to look like a piece of furniture

Answer 4

The pads (on the hammers that strike the strings) might need replacing. They can harden or flatten with age, or can be eaten by moths.

Answer 5

Interesting for a non-pianist.



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