What would Steinway do

[Ron Nossaman]

> Given what David Anderson recently documented about the large 
> variability in action ration in NY instruments, it seems that they can't 
> even produce consistently to their own specs. If this is the case, how 
> can they hope to consolidate construction details with another piano 
> factory?
> 
> The specter of the lower common denominator is a pretty scary thought.
> 
> Jurgen Goering


I'd think it would be a pretty tough sell to get the Hamburg 
folks to voluntarily hack their pianos down to the NY level. 
They'd have to be taught "random", which is contrary to their 
accumulated training. I'd really love to see rib crowned 
boards, accurately positioned plates, consistent actions with 
wooden rails, reasonably cleanly notched and pinned bridges, 
and belly rail mounted sostenutos coming out of the NY 
factory. It'd be great for them to have something to brag 
*about*, and the pianos would be a lot more fun to service. 
But then the NY crews would have to be taught all new 
procedures and build jigs, so that'll be tough too.

I spec we'll see.
Ron N