hey there say, anyone ever have KIMBALL PIANO? perhaps 1900

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neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 5, 2016 - 07:10pm PT
hey there say... has anyone ever had a KIMBALL piano...

one with the carved upright, and dark blackish, color?

what do you think about them... ?

i have seen them on line, just now...


well, i just used christmas money from a dear friend, that i had saved up,
PLUS a portion of my monthly income, and bought it for
200 total...


i just this afternoon, accidentally SAW one in the thrift store and it
was better tuned (though most likely not really TUNED)
than the one i have... mine is stuck on a few bass keys, and very
FLAT on the c-sharp...
(it is a small upright gordon laughhead, though most likely more modern than this kimball)...

it was wonderful playing it, as, mine is very tinny...
however, i don't want to get rid of it, until i
feel 'settled in' with this newer one...

wow, i am 'broke' for the rest of the month, but I LOVE this paino, and
was very shocked to just see it, and that i was able to even buy it,
at this time...


i have read a few mixed shares about them... most were very good though...

someday, one, or both will need to be tune, i know that...

thanks for any info...

:)



wow... now i got to move all my furniture, around, again, :))



it is SIMILAR to these:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/1902-Kimball-Upright-Piano-Restoration-Included-/291543978202?hash=item43e16010da:g:OWoAAOSwjVVV1SWo


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kimball-Upright-Piano-1905/131717948015?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3Ddeae82d43e2644fa8a5af9f8fee78557%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D1317

will post pic, tomorrow...
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Feb 5, 2016 - 09:16pm PT
Well, you should be very pleased with yourself to have found such a decent
piano for a pittance! I'm happy for you! Enjoy! :-)
john hansen

climber
Feb 5, 2016 - 09:16pm PT
Hey Neebee, I am really glad to hear that you play piano.

What type of music do you play?
Gary

Social climber
Where in the hell is Major Kong?
Feb 5, 2016 - 09:50pm PT
Wow, neebs, you got lucky. Most folks would pay you to haul off their Kimball. I hope you enjoy it a lot! Piano helps keep me sane.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 5, 2016 - 10:21pm PT
hey there say, john... i play the scott joplin RAGTIME...

then, i play some of the classical, from my mom's old book,
and then:

she gave me this neat old folks song book, and it is hard to explain...

it has a lot of , hmmm, flowing bass, or something?
really different...

like the :
listen to the mocking bird song... it is not done the way you usually hear,
i think??


then, i am really trying hard to get teh hang of
transposing songs (chords) up a notch) etc...


and, wanted to learn to improvise more... no one ever taught me that,
though, i can read music and figure out songs, and that is something i am very very thankful for!!


thank you reilly, john and gary...

say, what do you play, joh, reilly, gary??


also, say, gary, does that mean the kimball is good, or 'ify'
as if someone would pay ME to haul it away...

ooops, hope mine will be okay, in the long run, though it sure
sounds better than mine, that i have now...

got any more info, :)


:)



well, i cleared out the room for it... can't hardly wait...

will come in the morning...
praying that all will go well...


wow...


never thought i'd be doing this again, the first one was a miracle find,
at the stepgrandkids NEXT door neighbors GARAGE sale... 100.00

hee hee, i bet my wonderful ex son law is extrememly HAPPY that he does NOT
have to move this one!!!

:)

skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
Feb 6, 2016 - 07:09am PT
My wife used to have an late 60's upright Kimball. When the kids were taking lessons, we had to tune it every 6 months and the piano tuners constantly complained that we should get a real piano. Never ever stayed in tune, and as such was difficult to play with other instruments. By itself it was fine if you weren't too picky about tone, intonation, and just wanted to have some fun playing. I heard that the older ones were better and some were quite good, but that Kimball was always considered an average piano maker at best.

Ended up replacing it with a 1930 model M grand while the kids were still playing. Kid next door got the Kimball, and on occasion I can here him playing it. He seems to still enjoy it.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 6, 2016 - 07:32am PT
hey there say, skecreidic... thanks for the info... thus, i shall hang onto my old one, as well...

say, this one, from what i can tell, by the oak-carvings, is about early 1900... i will see when they bring it, what the date is...

it looks a bit like this...

was yours, like this??





edit:

ooops, forgot to add:

i have not played on a tuned piano for over 20 years, :O

somedayyyyyyyyyyyyy.... :))


(that would have been my mom's, but then, now, hers is not tuned, either)

:) but is better than mine one is...
and this new one is better, so far, too... :))


so, that will be my next goal...


:) and, a viola, :))


well, happy good day to all, i am just now waiting for them to
show up, from thrift store, :)

and, wow:

NO SNOW or rain, today, !!!

:)



neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 6, 2016 - 07:33am PT
hey there say, tad... wow, thanks for the ragtime, say,
as that was made popular by the movies:

it was the first ragtime, that i ever played... :)
Anastasia

climber
Home
Feb 6, 2016 - 07:48am PT
Kimball makes practice pianos. They are not as good as other makers. I have one and so I researched it. The piano to buy that keeps a tune is a Yamaha. Oh and with buying a stand up. They usually start falling apart a 50. It is best to get one younger than that.
justthemaid

climber
Jim Henson's Basement
Feb 6, 2016 - 08:00am PT
Hi Anastasia!^^

Hey Neeb, I had a 1910 Kimball that looked very similar to yours for many years.
I was a classically trained musician as a kid and played a lot of pianos over the years, but
I always preferred the action and sound on my vintage Kimball. They aren't really "worth" much but they are beautiful.
Sold it for $100.00 when we decided we were moving. Not in high demand in LA and I wasn't playing it any longer.
A good piano tuner can get it in tune with itself, but probably not perfectly in key just because of the age.
Happiegrrrl2

Trad climber
Feb 6, 2016 - 08:00am PT
perhaps modern day piano, Anastasia, but do you know if that pertains to one of the vintage of Neebee's beauty?

I can't wait to see the pictures, Neebs! What a beautiful accent piece just in that right!

Googling "Kimball piano history" there are quite some interesting pages.

This one is a discussion about their quality:
http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1339276/Did_Kimball_ever_make_good_pia.html

This one has some old catalogs which you may be able to peruse and see your new old find!
http://antiquepianoshop.com/online-museum/kimball/
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 6, 2016 - 08:41am PT
hey there say, thanks so much anastasia... and happygirrl...
yes, i was reading up... too...

haahhaha, there is NOTHING like reading up, AFTER you buy, :))


but, say, there was just that kind of 'magic' when i started touching
the keys... :))


and it sure sounded better than my tinny one...

*course, i COULD have used my christmas money on a TUNER for the other one,
but i was just waiting and making sure that i made
JUST the most perfect 'purchase', as well, you know...
gift money is just NOT ordinary money... :)

so, we were just in the thrift store, and not even planning to buy:

(you know, like in the GROCERY store and NOT really hungry--oh my) ...

and there it was, saw it out of the corner of my eye...

did not even care that i had old fashioned wood work, as, i know you can't
go by that... the 'eyes just love it' stuff...

but when i played the notes, i just knew i had to get this...
it was like a 'set up'..


oh my, the piano 'lured' me... and captivated me, :))



well, time will tell, if it was a good thing, and hopefully a lovely
memory to cherish... i got it with my older ex boss lady, she is
92, and the christmas money was from her...

well, anyway, like happiegrrrl2 said, it sure will be a GREAT accent
piece...


yes, will take a pic in a few hours, when it comes...

it is very very similar...
most likely not exactly the same though...


had to move more furniture around, hahaha, as, it would not look as nice in the area where they other one is...

and, NO WAY to get the other out...

so i am a mommy of two pianos now...



this WILL be interesting...
for sure... :)



all my songs that i memorized, though, have been sitting 'dormant' due to making holiday stuff, painting, and moving furniture for the change
of computer to better area... fake chimney, and then:
early spring house cleaning...

man oh man, it is time for ME now... i reckon, :))
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 6, 2016 - 08:44am PT
hey there say, ... hahahahaha, say, you never know...

maybe the previous owner, hoped and wished that it would end up
in home, that would love and cherish it...



>:D<



ahhhhhhh, okay... be back later, :)
skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
Feb 6, 2016 - 09:41am PT
Neebee, oh no...ours was quite plain looking and nothing like the upright in your picture. In fact, it was a bit like the piano next to the cool looking one in your picture. The same style of wood for sure. Patty got it as a birthday gift I think for her 13th birthday. Old instruments are just so interesting I think. At least to me.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 6, 2016 - 10:17am PT
hey there say, skcreidc... say, ahhhh, then, maybe that is GOOD then...

as, i have been reading that the older ones were better...

whewww... hope this holds true, then...

hee hee, well, they did say these old pianos were:

'bullet proof' (as an expression) so they just might be hardy then, :)
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Feb 6, 2016 - 10:23am PT
Very very cool Neebz!!

Instruments are such a joy.
canyoncat

Social climber
SoCal
Feb 6, 2016 - 02:33pm PT
Old uprights are often free, if you'll just move them. There are still thousands of them out there.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 6, 2016 - 03:21pm PT
hey there say, canyon cat... happy to see you share here...

okay, i got the serial number:
205320 and it says it is year 1909..

here is the picture of mine, wow,
it was SURE a story getting it in here...

but it went SMOOTH...

will share, later, i got to go see my neighbor right now...


be back later... with the story and more pics...

THIS IS THE pic, before i PUT THE ROOM back together, ...

hee hee, man oh man, THAT was story, too, :))



okay, see you all later,


looks darker in the store, with no flash...

it is a nice color here... but still darker than with a flash on it...

very nice...

oh, i JUST LOVE IT... deep rich sounds...
i know, i know, i knowwwwwwwww...


awwww, NOT tuned, :))

but so far, no sour notes, like my other one, :))
Sparky

Trad climber
vagabond movin on
Feb 6, 2016 - 05:14pm PT
Hi Neebee,

Congrats on the piano! While it is true you can find many used cheap uprights, you should know that bigger is typically better. What you have there is probably 53" or bigger. The bigger the sound board, the bigger the sound obviously. Many of the small spinets are no bigger than 40" making them have a tinny sound...not to mention many can't stay in tune. In fact, most tuners won't bother wasting their time. Your piano is close to a baby grand and will feel more full/round based on string length/width and sound board. I personally find your piano to be beautifully crafted aesthetically and think it would be worth tuning. Sure there could be many things wrong inside such as old dampner felt but you mentioned your enjoyment of ragtime. IMHO you found the perfect piano. Piano's can be very hard to get rid of...they certainly have commitment value. I think you should feel proud!

Jeff
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 6, 2016 - 06:15pm PT
hey there, say, sparky/jeff... wow, that sounds encouraging, say, thanks...
say, and i LOVE the depth, it is sooo much better than the other one...

it is truly a gift from above... :)
one to be treasured, and i will always remember
how i FELT when i knew i needed to buy it...

it was just some special way to know, it was meant to be mine, :)


will do the pics, in a few mins... :)
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