How much can the action of an acoustic piano be improved by a technician?

[Montunoman 2]

So I started my search for acoustic piano. I saw a beautiful looking 48’ upright 10 year old Palatino for $500  and 5’3 Kimball grand for $10O0. Both looked brand new, very beautiful really, but out of tune, which didn’t concern me, no sticky keys, felts /hammers looked new too. Both bought for kids. about 10 years ago, now away from home…. The big problem was the feel, which was way too stiff/heavy. Not sure if that even be fixed by a regulation or something? 

Afterwords, just for laughs, I went to Steinway Hall in Dallas. Every thing from their enter level Essex uprights ( 6K -8k) grands( 14k) felt great. I tried the top the line Steinway too that’s  worth close to a  medium sized house in Texas, which reminded in my next life to become or marry a plastics surgeon 👩‍⚕️ 
 

At the store they had Kawia baby grand for 7K, which felt almost as nice my ES110 which I got for $300! 

Probably just need to save, or find acoustics at schools and churches to practice on…. Anyways, back to my question, can the action on an acoustic be improved ( meaning made lighter to the touch) I could not imagine having to play more than an hour on the Kimball and Palatino as lovely looking as they were!

 

 

[Docbop]

All about how deep your pockets are but more important is it a piano worth dropping that kind of money into.   

[ElmerJFudd]

Yeah, I don’t think it makes sense to invest a technician’s time and materials into an acoustic that isn’t sought after.  The exception being a family heirloom, and even then.  But a baby grand of certain branding that’s already a good candidate for restoration, sure.   
 

There is a lot that can be done to regulate a piano, but there’s a difference between weight and stiffness.  Sometimes stiffness can be from overly dry/wet conditions.  
 

 

[Nathanael_I]

Take a tech with you to look at the pianos.  Then you’ll know. 

[AUSSIEKEYS]

I think if a piano you pay money for doesnt feel close to what you are wanting move onto look at the next offerings.

 

The risk of regulating a piano to your feel requirements may be a monetary and emotional nightmare.

 

 

[KuruPrionz]

2 hours ago, Docbop said:

All about how deep your pockets are but more important is it a piano worth dropping that kind of money into.   

A good friend of mine who is also a guitar tech used to say "COREVOI" = Cost Of Repair Exceeds Value Of Instrument. 

With 88 keys it wouldn't take long to get spendy. 

[RABid]

Sometimes they cannot do anything to improve things. They tried everything on the piano I grew up with including installing a dehumidifier. 

[Finale]

Many things can make an acoustic piano action "feeling heavy". For example, people not used to play acoustic pianos can think they feel stiff/heavy, until they develop a technique not just playing from the fingers but also using arm/forearm weight, etc. I am not a tech but I know how to regulate and tune acoustic pianos so I would know what to verify. Also, never buy a piano which is out of tune. In most cases, it's a proof that it was poorly maintained, so the action is probably quite out of regulation as well and techs will charge you a little fortune for that. Instead, look for pianos in good condition and well-tuned. If you buy from a piano store, ask to include a free regulation in your purchase price, it's a very common practice.

[PianoMan51]

I bought a used grand about 5 years ago. It was sitting next to a brand new version of the same piano. At a good discount. I told the owners son that if they could make the used one play and sound like the new one I would be seriously interested. 
 

Got a call the next week. The two pianos were now indistinguishable from each other in sound and playability. I bought it.

 

Later I found that the owners himself (a noted East coast technician) had spent eight hours working on my piano to bring it up to my expectations before I made the purchase.

 

I hope I have set your expectations properly. Get the seller to bring the piano up to your expectations before you purchase. Maybe the pianos action can be improved. Or maybe not. Do you want to take that chance?

[Montunoman 2]

1 hour ago, PianoMan51 said:

I bought a used grand about 5 years ago. It was sitting next to a brand new version of the same piano. At a good discount. I told the owners son that if they could make the used one play and sound like the new one I would be seriously interested. 
 

Got a call the next week. The two pianos were now indistinguishable from each other in sound and playability. I bought it.

 

Later I found that the owners himself (a noted East coast technician) had spent eight hours working on my piano to bring it up to my expectations before I made the purchase.

 

I hope I have set your expectations properly. Get the seller to bring the piano up to your expectations before you purchase. Maybe the pianos action can be improved. Or maybe not. Do you want to take that chance?

Sounds like you got a great piano! I’m assuming you got charged for the service? 

[PianoMan51]

The service was performed by the dealer at their cost and their risk. On the other hand, I paid their original asking price.

[Outkaster]

Also really get to know the brand, where it's made, and reputation.