I don't think anybody said that. Steinway pianos are beautiful instruments when the soundboards hold up well, as are many compression crowned instruments. But, as someone who works on many Steinway pianos, frequently there is failure at the soundboard level and as I've learned to listen for it, I notice it much more. As I understand it, compression crowning is a difficult thing to produce with consistency. The variables that contribute to the success of strict compression crowning are just too difficult to control. That's why, if you go into a Steinway dealership, you hear some pianos that are wonderful, but many that are disappointing. I have a customer who recently spent many months looking for a Steinway B. He visited a number of dealers, saw countless pianos, rejected all but one that he ultimately decided produced a tone that excited him. It was not a high percentage. And even with that one, there are some deficiencies he is starting to hear. While some of the rejections may very well have been due to poor preparation, some of the problems were clearly soundboard related. I have found this to be true not only of New York Steinways but also the often considered higher standard of Hamburg Steinways. Recently, a technician colleague of mine went to Europe with a group of professor/musicians representing a major west coast university in search of a Hamburg D for their concert stage. They viewed many pianos, most of which they rejected. Why such variation and inconsistency? It's more than just voicing or personal taste. I think the endeavor to find a more consistent and reliable way to produce a piano is an important one. I personally appreciate the efforts, and risks I might add, of those who are willing to consider a different approach to build something better, or, at least, more reliable and consistent. It would be far easier for them to just abide by the status quo. All the answers may not yet be there, but it is not without substantial personal investment that they do this. And, agree or disagree, I think that should be recognized and applauded. David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Bec and John Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 7:22 PM To: Pianotech Subject: Re: Rib crowning & compression failure Hi Ric, > And it is Steinway specifically (curiously enough) and not the CC > board in general that bears the greatest brunt of this affront. If I hadn't ever seen or heard a Steinway piano before joining this list I would have thought they were the worst pianos ever, and not just regarding soundboard issues! I would then have to conclude the pianists who like them are just fools/deceived and know nothing about pianos. I would then question their musical talent/ability. In the end I would have to say that pianists who like Steinways are bad musicians or at least good musicians who somehow don't know enough about what they do to notice they're playing on a bad instrument. :-) - John _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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