When is a Steinway still a Steinway

[Robert Goodale]

Perfect answer, give the man a cigar!

Rob Goodale, RPT
Las Vegas, NV



> Interesting discussion.
> 
> Where I come from. if I sell something, then it's _not mine anymore_ 
> and I have no say in what is done to that particular piece of property. 
> Steinway obviously has no say in what parts are put into pianos that 
> are not owned by Steinway.
> 
> If it is within the rights of an owner to modify his Steinway, then all 
> Steinways not owned by Steinway should be considered by potential 
> buyers to have been modified, whatever that means. If one wants an 
> officially-blessed-as-Steinway Steinway, then one should buy a Steinway 
> from Steinway.
> 
> It would be an interesting challenge if one wanted to preserve the 
> purity of one's officially-blessed-as-Steinway Steinway. Just as 
> tunings deteriorate as time goes by, so does the piano itself. What to 
> do, what to do! How would one be certain that needed tunings and other 
> restorations are really real Steinway restorations? Maybe the only 
> thing to do would be to purchase a new officially-blessed-as-Steinway 
> Steinway 3 or 4 times a year.
> 
> Among the pianos that I service, the finest pianos are not 
> officially-blessed-as-Steinway Steinways, but rather are Steinways that 
> have been rebuilt by one particular local rebuilder with Ronsen 
> hammers, Renner actions, Bolduc pinblocks, non-Sitka spruce 
> soundboards, etc., but Steinway still gets the "credit" for these 
> pianos since the Steinway name has not been removed. Steinway should be 
> grateful; it is these restored pianos that help maintain Steinway's 
> good brand name.
> 
> But that's just _my_ opinion.
> 
> Kent Swafford
> 
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