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Our wonderful Mason AA came with a concert bench. BUT one of the little black discs that trims the quilting on the top is missing. I have no idea how to replace this. I dont think I could actually find a matching button. If I knew the manufacturer I could probably get the right replacement. ANy ideas ...

Maybe think a little bigger, and replace all the buttons to make them match. And keep some spares.

You probably will not be able to replace a single button, But you could also try contacting M & h and asking what brand of concrtt bench they provide.

I'd try an upholstery shop to see if they had two buttons I was happy with and could do the work

My new (back in 2012) M&H came with the same bench. It has a cheap top. My wife & I replaced it with a 3” slab of urethane foam and covered it with a very dense pure black upholstery fabric. It took about an hour to do and cost 20$ total. It is much, much, much more comfortable for the six plus hours a day that the piano is used by both of us. Leather is noisy and hot.

The top unscrews and the leather is stapled, so very easy to remove.

Sorry, I forgot that your new M&H AA is from 1928. The bench is unlikely to be the same as mine.

Given that the piano is from 1928, it's also unlikely that the bench is the one it originally came with....

I can't recommend the Jansen benches that Steinway matches to their new pianos enough. They are ungodly expensive but for a reason. They're built like sherman tanks and incredibly comfy. They just feel right.

I have a Jansen but oooh! it is so heavy!

Ian

I have a Jansen bench and think it is very good. OTOH I was shocked how often some screws underneath came loose and were very difficult to screw back on. My tech told me this was not uncommon with these benches. Not a reason to avoid these benches but surprising considering the cost.

Especially costly, since I'm tall and ordered extended legs for it.

I agree totally and love my Jensen bench. I've never had a screw loose on it like the other poster has. It is heavy because the incredible steel height adjustment mechanism. I like that because it doesn't move when I'm playing. The mechanism on the previous bench was rubbish after a few years.

Why did you consider the original leather bench to be cheap? My comforatable, good looking tufted leather M&H adjustable bench has held up remarkably well over the past 12 years.

Are you talking about woodscrews working loose or bolts? A drop of clear varnish will usually fix them for good.

Don’t get me wrong. The tufted cushion leather top buttons started popping through the top after two years. We took the seat top apart and rewired the buttons using a larger gauge steel wire. After another year or so even those buttons popped through the top. Leather is also hot and noisy when you move around. We love the bench now. It is solid, dead silent, and very comfortable.

Jansen benches are designed to be durable and sturdy, but also to be repaired from time to time. The company sells kits for commonly needed repair parts. They can even re-upholster their benches if ever damaged. The are the best crank style bench available, with a great traditional look. They are designed to be a "forever" bench with reasonable upkeep.

To the OP, I believe that upholstery shops have button making equipment to make a near perfect match. They may have to remove one of the remaining buttons to size it correctly. Depending on the bench style, it may or may not be worth the trouble, and you may be better off investing in a better bench.

The other increasingly popular style of artist bench are the hydraulic piano benches. There are several good quality makers from Europe, and we like Hidrau Model from Spain. The design has many advantages. If you go to PianoSupplies.com (partner store of Pianoworld.com), you'll see Hidrau Model (HM) benches as well as Jansen benches.

Heavy is good. Solid reliable support lets you play anything with confidence.

If only it were but a mere bench that kept me from playing anything I want confidently. In that case, the price of a Jansen would be trivial.

I have a Jansen bench, which I love, and have had for about 18 years. But a button has come off, so will be looking to repair. Is this commonly handled by an upholstery shop, or does it have to go to Jansen or someone they recommend?

That which is tufted eventually untufts.