Jenco celesta--updated with pics

[lowerlightsmusic]

I've been looking for a celesta for a long time.  As luck would have it, two landed in my lap in less than a week.  I'm now the owner of a 3 octave Jenco celestette AND a 4 octave Jenco celeste.  The 3 octave arrived today.  It has the clunky charm these are notorious for.  The keys are uneven.  They make sound, though some keys are definitely louder than others.  I've noticed that some keys don't return very quickly at all. 

Anyone have any experience working on these?  I've lubed the action centers on a coupla Wurlitzer EPs.  Are Wurlitzers and celestes even close?  This forum has been a great resource for me.  I don't want to go to the well too often, but you guys have always been great.  Thanks in advance for any advice or resources you may have.

[cinnanon]

I did not know it until now but one day I must own one of these. They are fantastic!

[lowerlightsmusic]

Haha.  Yeah.  Pretty cool.  I highly recommend getting one, if possible.  I actually sold a fair amount of stuff to get the three octave model, and then the four octave model fell in my lap a few days later.  Both will need work.  I'm driving about eight hours one way to fetch the four octave this weekend.

[pianotuner steveo]

If you can post pics of the action, that would be helpful.

[lowerlightsmusic]

Thanks, Steve.  I'm going to fetch my second celeste this weekend, so I probably won't get to pics for a week or two.  I mostly fiddle around with my repairs on the weekends.  If I can find some internal pics online, I will post the pics or links. 

[lowerlightsmusic]

I added some pics I took over the weekend of my four octave celeste.  I'll probably need to get better pics of the action, but I was just trying to get a few "before" pics.  I spent about three hours just cleaning the grime and dust off, and shooting compressed air on the resonator bars to get crud out.  Looks like a mouse may have taken up residence at one point.  Right now, some of the notes are a little clunky, and the sustain pedal really isn't usable at this point.  It is very noisy. 

The other thing I'm contemplating is if I should attempt to restore the casing.  Normally, I'm someone who prefers the original finish, but this instrument is really beat up.  The paint is cracked, chipped and missing in several places.  The veneer is missing chunks on the sides.  There is supposed to be another screen on the front (the back screen, or grill cloth is still intact).  The rounded metal decorative pieces have popped out of the wood because the wood is missing.  The good news is the keys are in pretty good shape, and the resonator bars ring out for the most part.  There are two or three that are missing felts, but they still partially resonate. 

Opinions and advice are encouraged.  Here is the link to the pics:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/94175685@N05/albums/72157659828326365

[Tim Hodges]

Looks amazing, this is going to be a fun project.

I agree with what you've said about the casing it is pretty battered. I'd go with restoring the outside too, keep us updated!

[Max Brink]

Nice! We have a three octave Jenco Celesta at the shop and it is quite the secret weapon for recordings!

With a little intuition you should be able to service the action if you are familiar with the general Wurlitzer action servicing applying that intuition will go a long way. I haven't yet tuned mine and when I do I have a referral for a vibraphone tech here in Chicago I can probably share with you if yours also needs tuning.

We also serviced a similar and equally rare Musser Ampli-Celeste for Wilco last year that turned out great. If anyone comes across one for sale let me know. We would love to get our hands on one!

[lowerlightsmusic]

Thanks for the feedback, Max.  I thought about consulting Century Mallet in Chicago about tuning.  My wife is a Chicago girl, though we rarely make it back to her hometown.  Some of the notes on this one are slightly sharp.  If your contact in Chicago is different, I'd love to hear it.  I can make Chicago in about 8 hours.  I've though about bringing a Deagan vibraphone I have from my grandfather to Century for restoration.  He bought it in new in 1955. 

My 3 octave celeste seems to have settled in nicely.  I love it.  One of the bands I'm in is part of a Lou Reed tribute show in town.  We're doing Femme Fatale and Pale Blue Eyes.  I normally play guitar, but I'm just gonna bust out the celeste for both songs. 

The Musser Ampli-Celeste sounds awesome and appropriately Wilco-esque.  One my favorite bands. 

[Rumi]

Hello,

since some of you have heard the Musser Ampli Celeste, may I ask how it sounds? Is it like an "amplified Celeste", or does it sound similar to a Fender Rhodes, a Wurlitzer, an Elepian, or a Hohner Electra Piano?

Even better, do you have some sound samples? Is there a Wilco tune on which I can hear the Musser?

Thank you!