Dear Craig, Thank you for the post and background info. As best as I could tell, the only rebuilding the piano has had since you last saw it was some new Steinway hammers on the original shanks. The stringing looks pretty good, with no evidence of string breakage, although the pins are just a bit loose. There is still good bearing, and the ring time is okay. The action and damper action are another story... The fate of this instrument is a familiar one. Either there is no competent technician nearby to maintain the piano, or, as in Austin, the organization or business is unable or unwilling to pay the cost of specialized service. I tell groups like this that purchasing a Steinway performance piano is a bit like purchasing a high performance race car that is expected to win races. You wouldn't take such a car to the mechanic at the corner garage, although that mechanic may well have many skills that the specialized technician may not possess. The first order of business is to educate these organizations, but there are still many obstacles to overcome. I understand that the two last Cliburn winners, Olga Kern and Alex Kobrin, have become Yamaha artists. This is causing quite a stir at S&S. Apparently Yamaha has a new concert piano that is better than the CFIII. Have you seen one of these? I feel that these young artists may be doing some harm to their careers in associating themselves with Yamaha, but the short term inducements may be difficult to refuse. In the long term, I feel that they need to maintain a good relationship with Steinway. Feltsman and Kobrin have played in El Paso during thie current season, and both made a justifiable fuss about the piano, which instigated my visit. Kobrin told the management of the orchestra that they need to get a new Yamaha, and offered to put them in touch with the president of Yamaha. Of course, that would not be in their best interest, as most of their visiting artists will want a good Steinway, but I am sure that Kobrin wants to ingratiate himself with his new sponsor, and there may be other inducements as well. How are things in Waco? I seldom make it to the PTG meetings these days, but would love to meet for dinner or lunch sometime when you are in town and catch up. Many of the pianists at Baylor are UT graduates, including Bradley, Brian, and Vincent. I am sure that they are grateful to have you there. Best regards, Charles >Hello Charles, > >Forgive my intrusion, since you were speaking to Fred. I couldn't help >responded to your message because I know that instrument, or at least I used >to when it was new. I was working at the Steinway dealer in Dallas at the >time (mid to late eighties). I believe I prepped it for delivery and flew >out there on two occations to tune for visiting artists (Lorin Hollander and >Horacio Guttierez). > >It was a pretty good instrument, but frankly I was horrified by the >condition it was in. It took me a whole day's work just to make it >playable. There were, I believe, two principle reasons for this. First of >all, of course, the radical climatic change from Dallas to El Paso. >Secondly, the piano was not receiving proper maintenance. I was told at the >time of my arrival that a local tuner had "tuned it yesterday so it would be >in shape for my visit." There simply was no one available that was capable >of maintaining a new concert grand. I know that this is not very >encouraging news, but thought I'd better throw my two cents in. I think >that this piano has languished, neglected and uncared for most of its life. > >Respectfully, > >Craig Waldrop, RPT >Baylor School of Music >254.710.1723 >Craig_Waldrop at baylor.edu > > >On 3/7/06 8:19 AM, "Charles K. Ball" <ckball at mail.utexas.edu> wrote: > >> Dear Fred, >> >> The photo copy arrived on Friday and I appreciate it very much. >> >> I flew out to El Paso last week to take a look at the El Paso >> Symphony Orchestra's piano. It is a 1985 Steinway D that stands > > desperately in need of action and damper work. I think that >> potentially it is a good instrument. It has an ivory Kluge keyboard >> and was from the brief period when S&S was using Renner shanks and >> reps in its B's and D's. I think that it might have a Renner >> backaction as well. >> >> Apparently they had just started using Guy Nichols to do their prep. >> Do you know any other techs in that area who are capable of high >> level concert work? Their board may decide to purchase a new piano >> or to rebuild the present one, or both, but whichever option they >> choose, they will need a good technician to maintain the piano. Is >> that too far for you to travel? >> >> Best regards, >> Charles > > >_______________________________________________ >caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives -- Charles Ball, RPT School of Music University of Texas at Austin 512-471-0763 mailto:ckball at mail.utexas.edu
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