John Spencer & Co. piano

Chabenda

I was given an old John Spencer & Co piano the other day. I have always wanted a piano but determined to get one once I had my own house - due to their weight and the hassle involved in moving them. What I didn't realise was the fact that, generally speaking, the older you get the easier it it is to pay people to do all of the dirty work.

Anyway, back to the piano, it is a little rough on the inside, there are a few repairs to be effected and that will give me something to do on those dark, cold winter evenings ???.

It is going to need tuning so that's something else I'll have to learn to do. It could do with a good polishing too and that is something I had better read up upon before b*ggering something up. Going by its serial number it was made in about 1897/8.

I have absolutely no idea how to play it either!! My gran used to play the piano, accompanying the old silent movies, in the cinema 'Before the War' and I'm hoping that it's a genetic gift...

?

Norman86

Dude, where are the obligatory photos????

You'll be happy to know though, piano is a helluva lot easier to learn to play than guitar! ?

Chabenda

Norman86 wrote: Dude, where are the obligatory photos????

You'll be happy to know though, piano is a helluva lot easier to learn to play than guitar! ?

Hiya Norman86,

"Hey you there with the broken nose - play that piano!!" - "Who me? I don't have a broken nose!?" - Whack !!!!!!!--- -------plinkety plonk., plinkety plonk...

I love that corny old piano joke.

My new 2nd hand SD Cool Rail has arrived in Tete today so once I have got my grubby mitts on it and resuscitated my beloved Strat I will take a family portrait of the Old Timers and post it.

I'm glad that it's easier to learn the piano than the guitar because I've been trying this guitar thing for thirty years and I don't reckon I've got that much time at hand for the piano!

That old piano has introduced a brand new smell to my lounge - a good thing if you live in the ghetto in Tete! Sadly someone has removed the brass candlestick holders off of it - they would have come in handy with the obligatory Southern African power cuts.

Thanks for your interest and consideration!

Cheers,
Chabenda

Norman86

im not going to profess strong piano skills, but i do find it easier to learn simple melodies and sound good quicker on piano than on guitar!

get a tutorial book and try it out.. sure, you'll have to learn to read notation, but its not that difficult in the beginning! i have a great beginners book i bought, "Progressive beginner piano". ISBN 978 1 86469 167 2.
was R300 and its pretty good.. comes with a dvd too!

Otherwise, download tons of youtube videos!

Good luck! and i look forward to the photos! ?

RJN

Pics or it didnt happen.

One day when i live in a house that's big enough for a proper music room , ill start looking for one. ☹

Norman86

Check Chabenda's thread:

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/your-gear/my-old-timers/

Chabenda

RJN wrote: Pics or it didnt happen.

One day when i live in a house that's big enough for a proper music room , ill start looking for one. ☹

Ja, RJ, I know what you mean! I too only wanted one once I had my own house but this fits in the lounge and I have access to cheap labour - my appies. They're not very clever but they can pick up heavy things! :roflmao:

The piano was parked in a friends garage here in Tete and was given to me - it was time! There are a few dead keys but I will sort them in time. It is so nice to hear that beautiful, natural, non-digital sound reverberating through my ghetto residence! I love it!

floydthebarber71

Norman86 wrote: You'll be happy to know though, piano is a helluva lot easier to learn to play than guitar! ?

Lol...are you serious? ?

It depends what you're trying to play I guess. I've skipped the Mary had a Little Lamb phase and dived straight into classical. Hand independence is something I've never had to encounter with guitar :/ It's hard, yo!

It will be very nice to have an acoustic piano, as you say, when Eskom cuts the power to my digi piano and I'm left to go back to my guitar.... ?

Norman86

i find hand independance on piano easier than on guitar to be honest.. but to each their own..
i just found it MUCH easier to get something that sounded like music going on piano than on guitar!

floydthebarber71

I guess some guys have the knack. I'm delving in Chopin and the hand independence hurts my brain...have to move through it slowly and eventually it comes right.