Yet techs sometimes recommend unstringing the bass strings, giving them a twist, and re-stringing them to add resonance to the bass (dull in my instrument). I'm assuming most people don't change their piano strings often, if ever, since we're talking, I'm guessing, some thousands of dollars. I've never put new strings in a piano, only in guitars, where the effect is quite astonishing (although tuning is initially difficult). My technician's coming in three days I thought I'd mine the Forum for some data ahead of time. You don't want to end up with two pianos that are the same.

The Schimmel is larger, and a very nice instrument that will just be different to the M. I wonder if it is possible to keep the old pins when changing strings? I really like the look of the original tuning pins on a Hamburg Steinway, the dull nickel like finish, rather than a modern chromed look of replacements which can make them look over restored. I wouldn't write off the hammers if they have a lot of felt left. Personally I would slide out the action and polish the strings with a rubbing block from under and above, to stop rust getting on the hammer surfaces, before any work is done on the hammers.

It plays p, pp, ppp nicely, which is almost impossible to do on a worn out piano needing refurb. The M is probably an NY model? In which case the hammers will be hardened up with cellulose, rather than needelled down, and perhaps easier to soften? The M is going to be brighter than a German model. But would imagine the Schimmel has similar hammers and strings to the Hamburg Steinways. I know far less about this not being a tech.

How much is my schimmel piano worth