Wapin promotion

[Graeme Harvey]

Stephen,

This response isn't so much to do with the wapin system as such, (which I
have seen a sample of, so no secrets), but more to say, that with me "the
jury is still out on new controversial advances" until I can experience the
results for myself. (I'm sure most of us feel the same way here).
On that basis it will take time to be accepted if it truly has something to
offer.

As to the review. Was the reviewer listening with his "Steinway ears"?
We all get used to certain sounds and gravitate towards those that we enjoy.
This is to be expected.
Another reviewer may have the opposite opinion.
I downloaded a couple of MP3 recordings of the "wapin sound" however I can't
really do justice with a review because I can only hear it via my laptop
speakers presently, though I will add that it had a "crystal clarity" to the
sound comparing to other MP3 clips of other pianos.

With recordings there are so many variables that I would be sceptical from
the outset. (Mic placement, engineers preferences etc etc.)
I've purchased CD's based on others reviews only to be disappointed and vice
versa.
Best to play and hear for yourself if you ever get the opportunity.

I suppose at the end of the day what I'm really saying here is that everyone
has an opinion on most things and many people will defend their opinions
too, even if presented with overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Human nature I guess.

Cheers,
Graeme Harvey
New Plymouth NZ


----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Birkett <birketts@wright.aps.uoguelph.ca>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2000 5:11 PM
Subject: Wapin promotion


> I have a question that relates to the promotional aspects. Perhaps Bill or
> someone else can fill in some information. On antoher list the subject of
> Wapin came up in a negative way - this is a piano performance list (not
> piano technical). Someone there had been sent a promotional CD from the
> Cincinnati folks, with pianist Richard Morris playing a Wapinized piano.
> Now this guy that got the CD is pianist and a national critic and he gave
> an incredibly bad review of the musical aspects of the playing. Then he
> went on to say he found the sound of the piano abominable.[I haven't heard
> the CD and no nothing about the pianist so cannot comment personally.] So
> it seems this CD is a negative promotional device so why is it being
> distributed? The reviewer has no vested interest here and didn't even know
> anything about Wapin when he formed his opinions of the piano sound.
> Extrapolating, I'm wondering is this CD representative of the Wapin sound
> or is it a dud (like the piano at the convention)?
>
> Stephen
>
> Stephen Birkett Fortepianos
> Authentic Reproductions of 18th and 19th Century Pianos
> 464 Winchester Drive
> Waterloo, Ontario
> Canada N2T 1K5
> tel: 519-885-2228
> mailto: birketts@wright.aps.uoguelph.ca
>
>