Baldwin Concert Grand problems

[toyboy]

I've had this large upright for about 15 years, and the same problems
I've complained about it when it was new have lasted to the present. I
have gone through numerous technicians, all of them very competant with
very much experience. (At least two of them regular tune for major
concerts in the area and for the Marlboro Festival. But I think it's
gotten to the point where I've either exhausted their talents or
willingness to deal with the problem. The latest technician I have been
having tuning it is long aware of the problems as he was one of the
first I had to work in it early on. But nothing really what I would
call "major" has been done to the piano.

The problems in general are buzzing or what I might call "tamborine"
noises coming from different notes. The notorious problem has been the
keys just above the break from the bass strings to the treble strings.
That was allayed by adding an extension damper to one key; not sure
what else. But now it is a more widespread problem of "noise" coming
largely from the first octave keys. I can really only describe it as
tamborine-like although that might be somewhat misleading. It's ringing
and maybe just odd overtones that just should not be there (im my
opinion). When I ask the technician about it, and essentaily give him
carte blanche to work on it, he has pretty much refused, saying in
effect that he has never been asked to voice an upright before. He is
of the opinion that the piano sounds "okay" for what it is, and
basically thinks I should just get a grand. Perhaps he is right, but
for now, this is what I have (and can afford). The only thing he
suggested was to add some felt on the strings on the ends of the
bridge. (Not sure I'm describing it right) But I found it already had
felt woven through the ends already.

I guess my question is what sort of work CAN actually be done with an
upright to make it sound better. Or, is any work other than basic
regular tuning really only the most one can reasonably do with a piano
that for all other purposes is in excellant condition.

thanks

[John]

I don't know what can be done about it, but can share that my excellent
Kawai upright does the same thing. And the student uprights at school
(can't remember the brand). I believe it is a tuning issue, one of the
three strings is off-tune. Am unsure why it seems to be more prevalent
on uprights. There is one grand at school that is seriously out of
tune and makes the same kind of buzzing. I've accepted that my piano
isn't perfectly tuned. Good luck.