This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment A few thoughts. Pianos are much more like cars than they are violins. Violins improve = with age, pianos do not. A 1736 Guarneri or Stradivarius are (violins) = instruments that are not to be changed. It is generally accepted that = none finer has been produced since these instruments were created. My = understanding is that their construction is not fully understood. It is = wise to not alter these instruments. This is quite unlike pianos. The construction of Chevrolet Corvettes, and Steinway or Bechstein or = Mason & Hamlin pianos are well understood. Like cars, and unlike = violins, everything about pianos deteriorates with age. Parts will need = to be replaced as they age. As someone pointed out, we can make a = soundboard just like Steinway (compression crowned) - but why? When we = know how to make a better soundboard (radius crowned). My old Corvette = used to have TRW pistons, a Crane camshaft, a Wiand intake manifold, two = Holley carburetors, etc., etc. It was much nicer than any "All = Chevrolet" Corvette - looked better and was faster. It was faster than = most other cars out of the factory, but now it performs better than when = new! Why use a string scale that was experimentally derived, when we can = analyze it on the computer AND experiment with it to produce an optimal = scale? The list goes on and on. Also, one can look at what goes in to a Steinway. Let's see now, what = year(s) of manufacture should we look at? Do Steinways have Steinway = hammers? Gosh, I thought some had hammer manufactured by Abel, by = Renner. Does it have an all-Steinway action? Or is it a Renner action? = Hmmmmm Let's see what year it was built. Hey, where were these keys made = anyway? You need your action rebuild on your 1970 model B? Ok, let's = call Steinway and order action parts with Teflon bushings (right, get = it, all original, all Steinway!!!)! And what about this big gold-colored = heavy thing? I heard at one time Steinway made these. Who said this one = was made in Springfield Ohio? I thought Steinway was in NY! You mean a = very major component of my Steinway is made by another company? - The = same one that makes plates for .......well who else does Kelly make = plates for? Janssen? Kimball? Wurlitzer? The heart of a Steinway? = Hmmmmmm - I'm just not going to feel the same about that old Steinway = anymore.......... You can make a piano out of most anything decent - even a Steinway. Terry Farrell =20 ----- Original Message -----=20 From: David M. Porritt=20 To: pianotech@ptg.org=20 Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 12:22 PM Subject: It won't be a Steinway anymore! I have been in this work for just under 30 years. I've heard about = any question or comment possible by customers. There's one though, that = completely stumps me! If a piano needs a new sounding board I often here "...but it won't be = a Steinway anymore." I often come up with a lame analogy to a race = driver. He doesn't care what kind of fuel pump his car has as long as = it's the fastest it can be. Do you want your piano to be the best it = can be, or do you want to keep this old sounding board. =20 Does anyone have a good, but not glib, answer for these people? I = just don't understand their thinking. =20 dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- David M. Porritt dporritt@swbell.net Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/9a/18/1a/e8/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC