fully disclosed Yamaha lover questions Petrof

[David ilvedson]

Mike,

I think you are doing a great job of comparing pianos and 
trying to make a choice.  From you post, I think you will do 
fine with either piano.  

David Ilvedson, RPT

From:           	"Perik, Mike" <mikep@crt.com>
To:             	"'pianotech@ptg.org'" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Subject:        	RE: fully disclosed Yamaha lover questions Petrof
Date sent:      	Fri, 13 Aug 1999 07:30:20 -0500
Send reply to:  	pianotech@ptg.org

> Again it's my opinion that considering my price constraints and that I'm not
> a piano virtuoso or a seasoned piano technician the differences between a
> Yamaha and a Petrof other than possibly their distinct initial tone are not
> perceivable.  I believe that the actions in a Petrof are Renner so how does
> this relate to the tolerances of the actions.  I know that the action is
> installed on a Petrof frame but I'm not sure I understand if that has
> anything to do with the tolerances you mentioned.  I believe that Petrof
> also brings the moisture content into that range.  
> 
> Some of these arguments that you give for Yamaha seem to the same as what I
> heard from the Yamaha salesman I spoke to.  If the Vacuum Shield Mold
> Process is so superior why aren't the Steinways, Bosendorfs, M&H, Bechstein,
> etc. using it also.
> The Petrof dealer would say that they use many of the same manufacturing
> techniques these other manufactures use.
> 
> I'm not saying Yamaha is a bad piano I just can't justify the extra expense
> of nominal improvements. What I mean by nominal is that I personally can not
> distinguish the difference.
> 
> My research continues, I just hope I can get good enough in the next couple
> of months to actually be able to sit down an play a little.  It's extremely
> intimidating to go into a piano store and attempt to plunk around on a
> piano.
> 
> Mike
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:	ETomlinCF3@AOL.COM [SMTP:ETomlinCF3@AOL.COM]
> > Sent:	Thursday, August 12, 1999 4:51 PM
> > To:	pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject:	fully disclosed Yamaha lover questions Petrof
> > 
> > << It's my opinion at this moment is that the Petrof pianos give me a lot
> > for
> >  the price and that there is nothing measurably noticeable gained by
> >  purchasing a C2/C3 for the price difference.  I believe that if I find a
> >  reputable piano store that preps the Petrof properly I have lost nothing.
> >  
> >  Mike >>
> > 
> > That is not my opinion.  A piano made by the worlds #1 piano manufacturer
> > in 
> > comparison to a former communist block country with problems such as the
> > ones 
> > listed before in other posts.... there is no comparison in the product.  
> > Fact, Yamaha has developed the best casting methods in the industry when
> > it 
> > comes to the piano plate.  It cost them about $20 million to build and 
> > research for the manufacturing of the first Vacuum Shield Mold Processed 
> > plate.  All other manufacturers that use this method paid less than half
> > that 
> > after Yamaha perfected the technology.  Yamaha holds two-thousandths of an
> > 
> > inch tolerances in the manufacturing of their actions.  Petrof doesn't
> > come 
> > close to that.  A C2/3 would be the better choice by a long shot.  The 
> > soundboard is quarter sawn and the moisture content of the wood is taken
> > to a 
> > 5-8% range before woods are used in the manufacturing.  The Petrof doesn't
> > 
> > keep standards such as these.  Longevity of that product would be suspect 
> > when comparing to a 1957 Yamaha grand I just serviced that the action
> > played 
> > like new and the hammers needed shaping and a little regulation and
> > voicing, 
> > after which I could not believe how good this 5' 7" piano sounded.  You
> > won't 
> > hear any praising of a 40 year old Petrof like that.  I would not want to
> > buy 
> > a piano I "thought" was getting "better" in comparison to one that has
> > lead 
> > the industry for decades.  
> > 
> > I could go on and on but I would be accused of having a bias.  ( by the
> > way 
> > thanks Yamaha for the trip to Japan last year to see the factory, that was
> > 
> > great! )
> > 
> > I am a self proclaimed Yamaha lover and a tech/salesman of same said
> > product. 
> >  That, however, does not change the facts that Yamaha is still and will 
> > remain for some time the undisputed leader in the price range you speak
> > of.
> > 
> > One mans opinion,
> > 
> > Ed Tomlinson
> > Touchstone Award winner
> 


David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net