Franz Mohrs Credibility, was ETDS

[Alan R. Barnard]

Which ETD's were in common use when he made that statement? If it was old
strobes or early tuna-scopes I could better understand his feelings.

Also, I imagine that even an (forgive me aural-only people) "old school"
tuner like Mr. Mohr would be appalled if people relied on ETDs to the
exclusion of really having the skills to hear, understand, and feel the
complexities of tuning and, therefore, have the ability to make intelligent
decisions and subtle corrections even with the best ETD in hand.

If he ever tuned for Millie's Grandma in West Treestump, Missouri it was a
loooong time ago. As I understand it, he was a big piano, concert tuner,
almost exclusively, and also almost exclusively Steinway. I know that he
tuned the Small European A-A temperament which he laid out in 4ths and 5ths.
I'll bet he could do it in his sleep with one ear tied behind his back!

Anyway, he earned the right to be fussy and particular--it's what his
position demanded of him. But when I am an hour late getting to Millie's
Grandma' 1947 Gulbransen spinet I, for one, am mighty grateful to own some
spinning lights!

It's all perspective.

My thoughts ...

Alan R. Barnard
Salem, MO
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Brekne" <Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2002 1:20 PM
Subject: Franz Mohrs Credibility, was ETDS


> Farrell wrote:
>
> > Franz Mohr on ETDs.
> >
> > Question from the piano-consumer audience: "My piano technician uses an
electric box while tuning my piano. Is this good?"
> >
> > Franz Mohr's response: "Throw the bum out. Thrrrrroooowww him out!"
(Statement made with lots of sweeping hand/arm/body motions.)
> >
> > Any further questions?
>
> Fact, Franz Mohr was Vladimir Horowitz's personal piano technician for 40
years. Flew all over the world with him on concerts. And Horowitz wasnt his
only such client. Regardless of what you might want to read into his lack of
respect for ETD's (which I might add is following the Steinway line), you do
not
> discount a fellow who has this kind of experience with this kind of
customer for so many years. Not unless you are very foolish.
>
> Now that doesnt mean you swallow every word he says as Big "G's" holy
gospel either... that would be going from one extreme to the other. :)
>
> >
> >
> >
> > Terry Farrell
> >
>
> --
> Richard Brekne
> RPT, N.P.T.F.
> UiB, Bergen, Norway
> mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
> http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives