What
Makes a Fine Piano Fine?
When
asked, “What makes a fine piano a fine piano?” Gunter Manchen,
owner of Euro Grand Piano Gallery in North Naples enthusiastically exclaims:
“To build a fine piano, it takes the finest materials from around
the world, combined with sound construction and design by the master craftsmen
and technicians who build these beautiful instruments.
“Only a handful of
manufacturers fit these qualifications and have the manpower, materials
and knowledge that comes from over two centuries of building premium pianos,”
says Manchen. “Because of their access to the best materials and
craftsmen in the world, European factories have perfected the piano touch
to create the most luxurious and pure sound imaginable. The winning combination
of touch and sound is paramount to building the finest pianos.”
Classified as either Grand
or Upright all pianos can be fitted with an automatic player system if
desired. Grand pianos range in size from 5-to-10 feet. When building a
fine piano, nothing is left to coincidence. To describe everything that
makes a fine piano a fine piano would take pages and pages, but a summary
of the most integral components follows:
What makes a fine piano
a fine piano is the action or keyboard assembly, which includes the keys,
hammers and whippens. Comprised of more than 10,000 integrated and vital
parts, the action is a work of art and precision in a fine piano.
The finest action parts
are made from mountaingrown hardwood such as spruce, beech or maple, which
are grown in Alaska, Germany or Italy and milled in the winter after the
sap has escaped the trunk. Trained millers select trees by knocking on
the trunks to hear the sound to determine the tree’s propensity
to create perfect sound. Once milled, the wood undergoes a gentle curing
process where it is seasoned for several years, both outdoors and indoors
under closely monitored, humidity-controlled conditions, resulting in
extraordinarily high stability and durability standards.
Just like a violin bow,
the element that produces the sound – the hammer – is an essential
part of the action. The best pianos have hammers made from premium sheep’s
wool felt. Different size hammers are made for different size pianos,
thus creating singular sounds. Using the finest materials available produces
a more refined sound.
“The finest pianos
have buckskin bushings in the keys, which, in this instance, is superior
to felt because it will last more than 100 years,” says Manchen.
What makes a fine piano
a fine piano are the individually and accurately balanced and weighted
keys. These details are paramount to the pianist’s touch. The white
keys are made of an artificial ivory material, while the black keys, or
sharps, are still made from ebony hardwood.
What makes a fine piano
a fine piano is the soundboard. If the action is the heart of the piano,
then the soundboard is the soul. The strings, by means of bridges, are
connected to the sounding board, which is built into the rim or frame
of the piano. Just like a violin, the sounding board takes the vibrations
of the strings and amplifies the sound. The finest soundboards are made
of solid, mountain-grown spruce that has the inherent ability to transmit
vibrations in a variety of desired directions.
What makes a fine piano
a fine piano is the plate. The plate must be able to adapt and manage
more than 20 tons of tension caused by the piano’s 200 strings.
The finest pianos have plates that are cast in sand and then cured outdoors
for six months to ensure a rich, undistorted, bell-like sound. Although
the size of the plate varies with the size of the piano,“A fine
piano, once delivered, is ready to be played,” says Manchen. “It
is necessary to cure the metal outdoors to avoid any warping or cracking.”
What makes a fine piano
a fine piano are the strings, which are attached to the finished plate
and set into motion by the hammer blow. Known as the “Blue Chip”
of the steel industry, only a few select mills have the ability to produce
the highest quality piano strings. The bass strings are carefully wound
with pure copper wire to ensure a beautiful, clear and pleasant sound.
Bösendorfer pianos employ the single-stringing method.
What makes a fine piano
a fine piano is the voicing, or fine adjustment and tuning of the piano
in order to achieve its full touching sound. Clarity of modulation, resonance,
harmonic and well-balanced, musical, noble sound and stable tone…these
words and more are often used to describe the sounds of a fine piano.
Each piano manufacturer is renowned for the distinct and distinguishable
“signature” voice their pianos produce.
Once the piano is in place,
further voicing is necessary to adjust the character of the piano’s
sound in relation to the environment, for example, what flooring materials
were used in the room or if the piano is next to an interior or exterior
wall, what direction it faces and what sound the pianist wants. But in
any case, a piano should always be positioned so that the sound projects
outward, the same way a concert pianist is positioned in front of an orchestra.
Nowadays, pianos can be
tuned electronically, but an experienced pianist will always choose to
have his instrument tuned by a professional in the traditional method
that has been handed down through generations of master piano builders
and technicians. A master tuner has the incredible capacity to actually
hear the vibrations of the strings. Fully aware of his gift, Manchen says,“
I am fortunate to have this musical ability. But as with any gift, it
is my responsibility to protect, nurture and grow this talent.”
What makes a fine piano
a fine piano are the rim and finish. It takes more than six months to
build a fine piano, during which time the cold mountain-grown woods that
make up the outer rim, ribs, beam construction, inner rim and sounding
board are meticulously cut, planed, joined, glued and sanded.
The finish on a fine piano
is similar to the finish on a fine piece of furniture or cabinetry. Choices
range from decorative inlays to a variety of domestic or exotic wood veneers,
such as Wenge, Moabi, Bubinga, Burr walnut, bird’s-eye maple, mahogany,
beech, alder, Santos rosewood, walnut and oak high-quality veneer finishes.
Pianos can also be stained in any color desired and then finished with
lacquer or polyester.
To own a handcrafted piano
is an investment, not only in a beautiful object, but also in a complex
mechanism, which requires intelligent care. During the first year, it
is advisable that a piano be tuned at least four times; after the first
year, the frequency of tuning depends upon the use and the environmental
conditions, but most manufacturers suggest a minimum of two tunings a
year.
It is important that the
piano be kept in a carefully controlled environment; extreme conditions,
such as excessive heat, cold, humidity or dryness will harm this fine
instrument. With care and appreciation, a fine piano will be passed down
generation after generation.
Manchen’s rigorous
training in piano and pipe organ construction took him from apprentice
to journeyman and then to master, making him one of the most qualified
concert piano technicians in the United States. He has a unique talent
for blending his technical expertise with his extraordinary musical ability.
Married to his childhood
sweetheart, Gisela, also an accomplished musician who plays the mandolin,
the Manchens moved from Germany to Toronto where they had a successful
showroom and piano maintenance and rebuilding business for more than 30
years.They moved to Naples and established Euro Grand Piano Gallery, a
showroom, recital and teaching venue and piano servicing business.
Euro Grand Piano Gallery
represents a wide variety of both domestic and imported pianos, including
such world-renowned pianos as: Bosendorfer, Seiler, Schimmel and Bechstein,
to name a few. Conveniently located in the Imperial Shoppes, the showroom
is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or by appointment.
According to Manchen,“Our
goal is to work with our clients, teachers and interior designers on a
persona level to learn how they will use their pianos.This way, we can
ensure that we match each client to the ideal instrument for his or her
individual needs. “We make dreams come true – we sell happiness
– a fine piano that sounds wonderful will change your life; it will
make you happy.”
Courtesy
of Euro Grand Piano Gallery
239 591-0304
www.europianosnaples.com
Written
by Sondra Black
