piano purchase specs

[Fred Sturm]

Answer: Nope. I haven't looked at every single model listed, though I know 
most of them. I figure the audition process will weed out the chaff.
Fred

--On Monday, December 15, 2003 4:32 PM -0600 "David M. Porritt" 
<dm.porritt@verizon.net> wrote:

> Fred:
>
> Good work on this.  The only question I had was "have you seen a Boston
> UP-118 lately?"  I was surprised to see it in the list of acceptable
> instruments.
>
> dave
>
>
> __________________________________________
> David M. Porritt, RPT
> Meadows School of the Arts
> Southern Methodist University
> Dallas, TX 75275
>
>
> ----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
> From: Fred Sturm <fssturm@unm.edu>
> To: College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>
> Received: Mon, 15 Dec 2003 11:02:53 -0700
> Subject: Re: piano purchase specs
>
>> Here's what I finally came up with, and purchasing seems to be going
>> along  with it (I should note that I chose piano models from among those
>> available  at local vendors.):
>> Memo to purchasing department
>
>>	The Music Department has recently implemented a course fee for the
>> purpose
>> of on-going replacement and maintenance of pianos. Purchase of new
>> instruments will occur regularly for the foreseeable future.
>>	It is vital that the pianos purchased be if the highest musical quality,
>> and that they be manufactured to a high standard to ensure longevity and
>> reliability.
>>	It is not possible to quantify selection criteria for pianos (or for
>>	many  other musical instruments, including, for example, violins) in a
>> purely  objective way. There is a broad consensus as to which models of
>> instruments  from which manufacturers will generally meet quality
>> standards. However,  individual instruments within any given model will
>> vary considerably from  one another. Obtaining appropriate instruments
>> requires individual  selection.
>>	We understand that we are constrained by state law to follow procedures
>> which provide for a fair and honest selection procedure. We would like
>> to  propose the following as an appropriate way to select pianos. We
>> would: 1) List specific models made by specific manufacturers as pianos
>> known to  meet quality criteria, and invite bids to provide those
>> instruments. In  general, we would try to list at least four models made
>> by four different  manufacturers where possible.
>> 2) Invite vendors to propose, if they wish, models which they consider
>> to  be equivalent, noting that the selection committee would determine
>> whether  or not such instruments would meet our requirements.
>> 3) State that while price will be a criterion for selection, individual
>> pianos will be selected for purchase individually. The vendor should
>> provide an opportunity for the selection committee to audition pianos
>> individually.
>> 4) State that the UNM Music Department will generally wish to establish
>> and  maintain a varied inventory of pianos, in order to expose students
>> to a  wide range of tone and response. Thus, in general purchases will
>> be of more  than one model, and from more than one vendor.
>
>> We wish to make our initial purchase as early as possible in 2004, with
>> a  goal of obtaining four upright pianos. For this purpose, we would
>> propose  the following language for the request for bids:
>
>> The UNM Music Department is seeking bids for the purchase of four
>> upright  pianos by January 31, 2004. These pianos should be of
>> Professional/Institutional quality as described below:
>
>> 1) Pianos purchased will be between 45? and 52? in height. Probable
>> purchase will include one 45 - 46?, two 48? and one 50 - 52?, but this
>> mix  may vary depending on instruments available.
>> 2) Bids will be entertained for the following makes and models:
>> Boston: UP-118, UP-126, UP-132
>> Kawai: UST-7, UST-8, UST-10, UST-12, K-20, K-30, K-50, K-60, K-80
>> Mason &  Hamlin: 50
>> Petrof: 115, 125, 131 (or equivalent Weinbach)
>> Schimmel: 120, 122, 124, 130
>> Steinway: 1098, K
>> Yamaha: P-22, U-1, U-3, U-5
>> 3) Vendors may submit bids on pianos not listed above, which they
>> believe  to be of equivalent quality. The selection committee will
>> determine whether  such pianos meet Music Department criteria.
>> 4) While price will be a major consideration, actual selection of
>> instruments for purchase will be made by audition. The selection
>> committee  will examine instruments individually to determine which will
>> meet the  needs of the department, based on considerations of tone,
>> response, and  character. Vendors should plan to provide an opportunity
>> for this audition  process.
>> 5) The Music Department wishes to have a variety of instruments for
>> educational purposes. Hence, it is likely that purchases will be made
>> from  more than one vendor.
>> 6) Used pianos may be offered, provided they are in like new condition,
>> and  are less than ten years old.
>
>>	For the audition portion of the selection of pianos, I would like to use
>>	a  committee of three. Each will audition each piano, and will rate each
>> piano  on a rating sheet as follows:
>
>> 1) Tone quality: unacceptable (0), satisfactory (1), very good (2),
>> outstanding (3) [written comments]
>
>> 2) Dynamic range: unacceptable (0), satisfactory (1), very good (2),
>> outstanding (3) [written comments]
>
>> 3) Responsiveness of action: unacceptable (0), satisfactory (1), very
>> good  (2), outstanding (3) [written comments]
>
>> 4) Overall impression of piano: unacceptable (0), satisfactory (1), very
>> good (2), outstanding (3) [written comments]
>
>> We would then do a numerical average to rate the various pianos, and
>> collate that with price to make the actual selection.
>
>>	I'll let you know how this works. We are hoping to complete the process
>>	in  January or February.
>> Regards,
>> Fred Sturm
>> University of New Mexico
>
>
>> _______________________________________________
>> caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives