Topic: I have restored many historical Pleyel pianos, could you make this?

I see on the Pianoteq demo that there is an 1835 Pleyel that was modelled.

Having restored, partially and completely, various 'Chopin-era' Pleyels, including one which is now in the Warsaw collection, I have something to ask Modartt.

Most of the historical piano community is convinced that the old pianos had hard hammers, and therefore the pianos sounded bright and pointed, especially on the bass, but in my years of research I have concluded, without a doubt, that Pleyel pianos in particular had, as Liszt wrote, a 'veiled sonority'.

The hammers on the very first years of production started out with a very soft and fluffy leather outer layer, and after a few years extremely soft wool and beaver felt, with a density of about 240 grams was used for the outer layer.   

The felt was flimsy and wore out in a few short years, and that is why there are very few examples left, most were recovered multiple times during their lifetimes.

Many restorers swear that leather was what they always used, but that is because finding the correct felt is impossible, it has to be made by hand, because it is unique.   Closer to damper felt than hammer felt.


I have seen that you have made the HB Steinway D Felt I  program.

Could you do add a similar program for your Pleyel?  It would be very useful, also for historical teaching purposes.



The Pleyel, when new, were very very dark and soft instruments on pianissimo,  only becoming remotely bright with intense hammer velocity.

I attach a video of an 1844, Pleyel, which is slightly bigger and more powerful than the 1835, but still used the wool and beaver felt, to give an idea of what I am talking about,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWKl6e5BU8s

Last edited by MM (22-08-2024 12:17)

Re: I have restored many historical Pleyel pianos, could you make this?

If you enable the Celeste pedal, you can assign a thickness for the felt and reverse the pedal so with pedal not depressed the felt is used.  I just tried this on the demo version of the Pleyel 1835 and playing with various felt thickness you can get a sound similar to the video.

(not Moddart support)

Re: I have restored many historical Pleyel pianos, could you make this?

stephenll wrote:

If you enable the Celeste pedal, you can assign a thickness for the felt and reverse the pedal so with pedal not depressed the felt is used.  I just tried this on the demo version of the Pleyel 1835 and playing with various felt thickness you can get a sound similar to the video.

(not Moddart support)


ooh cool..

That would be exactly what's needed.  I will try

Re: I have restored many historical Pleyel pianos, could you make this?

I once played a restored Pleyel at a store in NYC. I wish I had bought it or harassed my parents to buy it. lol The most succulent tone ever. You really couldn't do fortissimo. And the new action was horrible with an extremely pronounced escapement hump that made no sense given the innately lush tone. BUT THAT TONE. [drool]

Re: I have restored many historical Pleyel pianos, could you make this?

Hi MM,
we are quite interested in your findings at Modartt. Could you please share with us some of them more precisely? Don't hesitate to send us an email on the contact page of the website.