The Nossaman Steinway (was rebuilders..)

[Ric Brekne]

Dave Porritt wrote:

So far everyone has loved it.  What's not to love?  As to the people who
ask if it is still a Steinway I confess to them that I really don't
understand the question.  It is still a piano.  It was originally built
by Steinway and it has now been redesigned as a better piano.  I just
don't know what they mean by the question.  If my Ford has been modified
with a racing engine is it still a Ford?  I don't know what that means.
--------------------

Hi David

I never could understand the difficulty with this. If you ask one of 
those guys what rebuilds cars into racing vehichles their answer is in 
essence always the same. It will be a modified <<whatever>> with <<this, 
that, and the other special modifications made by the rebuilder>>.  The 
message comes through in clear channel that the car is their baby. And 
they are always damned proud of saying so.

So should it be with pianos.  This one is a Nossaman design. Its a 
Nossaman rebuild with a Farrel panel in a Steinway case.  The plate has 
been modified, the scale has been modified, the duplex lengths, the 
entire concept of soundboard design is changed... really not much left 
of the Stein-way left by all descriptions. Even the action has undergone 
some modifications.. (actually was a bit suprised to hear an Overs 
action wasnt fitted to the thing) 

In cars, its customary to leave the origional logo in place, and then 
plaster the sides and top surfaces with the names of sponsers and 
manufactures of the major parts used in modifications, and somewhere the 
name of the guy behind the project.  A more discrete approach is 
required for pianos of course... but a Nossaman logo on the plate and 
perhaps on the fall board as well.

As for whether its a better piano or not... now there is a question that 
*_I_ *dont understand. :)... but then you know that.

Cheers
RicB