Wapin/String Vibes and Stuart

[Richard Brekne]

Thanks Mark.

Always a pleasure to hear your thoughts. So you dont think there is any
comparison between the Wapin concept and the general idea of bridge
agraffes
?... or were there just to many variables to be able to comment really
on the
comparison ?

I read your reply to Ron O with interest as well... you have doubts as
to the
longevity of Stuarts ?.. How old is the oldest one... I suppose I can
take a
look at his website or as Ms Stuart... but if you happen to know off
hand..  It
will be interesting to see how they hold up.

As far as him getting on with the rest of the techs... I know others
have a
different perspective... and not knowing him personally I have to
reserve a bit
here... but it does seem from my viewpoint that many folks in the
buisness from
his end have, for whatever reasons, become defensive to the point of
ofte times
seeming arrogant. Kind of easy to understand given the grilling they get
from
just about every corner they turn. I envy their strength to hold up
under it all
when it comes down to it... but yes... it would be nice if they were all
a bit
more inclusive. But me thinks thats a double sided coin if you get my
meaning.

Anyways... I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on the Wapin. Would
you
recommend, aside from cost issues, the modification to just about any
piano ?...

Cheers
RicB

Mark Bolsius wrote:

> Hi Ric,
>
> Yes I have done the Wapin thing...but only once a few years ago on an
> old(ish) Yamaha U1 as a low cost experiment. I haven't persued the concept
> in my rebuilding here in Australia...too hard to sell a concept no-one's
> heard of, and the licensing fees added a bit of a whack to the overall job.
> Our dollar was miserable against the mighty greenback at the time.
>
> The trial piano was indeed a changed piano - I like a lot! but there were
> too many factors changed in it to be absolutely sure that Wapin made the big
> changes. To compare this piano with the Stuart is folly.
>
> And for the same reasons , it's difficult to really know for sure whether
> it's the aggraffes, the nil crown s/board, short ribs, scale design etc etc
> in the Stuart that give it that different sound.
>
> I know the hammers must be a part of it as well! I've just remembered that
> he uses Abels....but they're unlike anything I've seen before. The underfelt
> is really minimal and the shape is a little different...a photo would tell
> the story better than I can describe...maybe one of the Sydney list lurkers
> can send a digital image ?...
>
> I wish him well, I only wish he'd have a little more to do with the rest of
> the industry here. He's got a real attitude against the Guilds here and what
> they stand for, and as a result, most tuners don't know or want to know what
> he's about.
>
> Cheers
> Mark Bolsius
>
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives

--
Richard Brekne
RPT, N.P.T.F.
UiB, Bergen, Norway
mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html
http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html