Boston pianos

[Byeway222@aol.com]

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Hello Ric and List,
 
I do wonder if the Boston piano has different manifestations.  The  ones I 
look after in UK are, on the whole, disappointing instruments for one  reason or 
another.  All the uprights (6) which I have on my books have  a deadness of 
tone and poor tuning stability.  The plank area on both the  grands and 
uprights almost feels as though it is manufactured from  compressed rubber, and any 
feel of 'setting' the pin is totally absent.   Hence the unreliable tuning 
stability.
 
The following posting which succinctly suggests 'drilling holes in the  front 
panel'  for added clarity/volume ties in with ones of my  favourite gripes 
with upright manufacture.  Many manufacturers  worldwide make superb upright 
pianos, but why, oh why, is there still the  tradition of suffocating the sound 
potential with heavy and solid front  panels.  Given that the vast majority of 
owners are going to push the  piano against a wall as well, it seems that the 
poor upright piano never stands  a chance to really sound to its full 
potential.  There is a German maker  (Steingraeber) who, I notice from their brochure, 
 makes panels with cut-  away areas backed with a very smart coloured 
material, rather like a  loudspeaker gauze.  It makes so much sense.  All the old 
makers like  Broadwood, Brinsmead etc, and I'm sure many Ameriacn makers used 
this technique  in very ornamental ways.  I have also seen older Bechsteins and 
one  Steinway K where a restorer has taken out the (easily removed) three 
panels in  the top door and relaced with brass grille backed with a subtle coloured 
textile  material.  There are so many ways of presenting this idea, I just 
wish it  would catch on more with both manufacturers and restorers.
Ric (UK)
 
 

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