Falcone pianos

[voce88 at aol.com]

Dear Marshall,
You left out an important step in the Santi Falcone story. Bud Greer and Lloyd Meyer actually bought out Santi and offered him a postion as a technician. That was when Santi left the company.
 
The Burgett Brothers did not get involved until Greer tired of the investment and let the company go into bankruptcy. It was the Burgett Bros. who bought the company oput of bankruptcy and have steered it to be the company that it is today.
 
I know this because Cunningham Piano was a Falcone dealer AND a Mason & Hamlin dealer - we still are.
 
All the best,
 
Richard Galassini
Cunningham Piano Company
(215) 991-0834
 
-----Original Message-----
From: falcone1132 at tmlp.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 2:03 AM
Subject: Re: Falcone pianos


Hello list folks!
 
Let me try to shed a bit of light about Falcone pianos.  Santi Falcone began building pianos in his small shop in Massachusetts, later moving to a larger facility which now manufactures Mason & Hamlin pianos.  
 
His first accomplishment (I believe it was a 6'1" grand?) was completed somewhere between 1984-1985. I was beginning my Music Ed. degree at University of Lowell at the time, and became acquainted with his workmanship when he loaned a concert grand to the University-- hoping to get the pianos noticed, and build the business within the musical community.  When I graduated in 1990, the University had purchased one of all three models manufactured: (6'1" in Prof. T. Stumpf's teaching studio, a 7'3" in the recital hall, and a 9-foot concert piano in the main concert hall).  All had one-piece ivory keys, Renner actions, and were rivals to any Steinway that I've ever performed on, or serviced).   I  had the opportunity to perform at the Falcone factory showroom in 1988- along with my piano pedagogy instructor from the University, and a few other select pianists.
 
 He (Santi Falcone) managed enough financial backing to purchase an old shoe factory on Duncan Street in Haverhill, and continued building very high-quality hand-manufactured pianos (serial #s 1000- 1200) before a need for finances rendered him unable to continue without taking the company "public".  This is when a disasterous blow befell the company.  In need of financing, Santi Falcone was "consumed", by  1% (51% ownership) in 1989 and offered the opportunity by its new owners to remain as a "technician"-- destroying all his dreams of building instruments that rival Steinway, Fazioli, and the other greats.
 
You may know the name of the people involved in the " takeover"-- The Burgett brothers--renowned builders of Piano Disc. Falcone would never again build the fine pianos that once graced the stages of New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall, The Claremont Opera House, and several Universities and institutions of musical learning.  I wasn't present at the signing of paperwork, I am relying on trade/business magazines, as well as newspapers (which I have retained copies of) naming the Burgetts as the purchasers of the company. 
 
The Falcone name was now 'someone else's' property, and the line was phazed out- with a concentration focused on reviving the Mason & Hamlin line- attempting to build to the original scale designs set forth.  Members of the Boston PTG may remember chapter meetings at the Falcone Showroom near Steinert & Sons-- where the revival of M&H was first introduced??!!
 
After having built some marginal grands, the name was sold (yet again) and now is made in Asia.  This is a sad footnote in the history of a company that had SO much potential to really give Steinway a serious 'run' for its money. I tuned a 'vertical' falcone (P.S.O.) and was horrified even more than when I tuned a 5'8" grand which is equally inept in design and musical abilities.  It seems now that the name will remain only as that associated with asian-made garbage, and hardly remembered for what Mr. Falcone originally set out to build.
 
Although I've probably encountered more of these instruments than most, I readily admit that there were some design issues.  Albeit, I will ALWAYS, and do own one.  I still won't regulate mine (#1132) without the supervision of the former quality control manager from the company, who became my mentor as a rebuilder-- long after I bought my piano.  After 25 years as a piano tuner tech., tuner, and rebuilder, I can regulate any piano (Steinways, M&H, Bossen.. etc. ) but truly value the instrument that I feel blessed to own and want to insure that it retains the glorious action that convinced me to trade my Steinway 'A' to get-- amid paying tuition to finish my first degree in Music. 
 
If you have the opportunity to ever meet a REAL Falcone, you'll immediately notice the difference between the it and the stencils now being made.  It is important to know that the real, original pianos have serial #'s of 1,200 and lower- yes, if you were reading carefully, there are only 200 REAL ones.
 
I gladly welcome anyone within driving distance to New Bedford, Massachusetts to contact me and come play this instrument.  Incidently, I still own an Steinway, and a 1922 Chickering quarter-grand with an Ampico (I hope to rebuild soon.... a new acquisition) that I teach on.  I'm not a pianistic snob.  I just love my instrument.  Although I love Steinways, I have a special place in my heart for the Falcone piano! I don't let students touch it.  I use it only for practice, performance, and recording purposes.  Come one, come all players to enjoy a REAL Falcone.  I'd certainly welcome anyone to my shop, and give other techs. a chance to see what a REAL Falcone is all about.  It's nearly 20 years old now, and everything about this piano is as solid as the day that it was delivered.  
 
Respectfully Submitted,
Marshall A. Connolly, Jr. 
a/k/a/ falcone1132 at tmlp.com
Connolly's Center for Piano Wellness
496 Nash Road
New Bedford, MA  02746
(508) 984-0800
 
To: Pianotech List 
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 8:53 PM
Subject: Re: Question about new pianos


The one Falcone I've encountered offered a less-than-optimal experience from my perspective. Due to numerous unspecified problems, Schmitt Music (large dealer here in Twin Cities) has quit carrying them in favor of resurrecting the Cristofori name, mfr'd in China to Schmitt's specs. 


On 3/12/07, RicB <ricb at pianostemmer.no> wrote: 
While I'd agree that a new piano should not have problems of the sort
you mention,  I dont know if I'd agree with the statement that lack of
experience with a piano brand, or lack of these being well known to the 
public at large is any dependable criteria for judging the quality of
the instrument.

I have never run into a Falcone myself.  I remember when they were first
brought to my attention in the early 90's when I was in Seattle for a 
couple years... they were touted as being the piano to replace
Steinway.... and by some folks I respect.  Yet, true to form I register
these kinds of comments and stay open minded both ways... because when
it comes right down to it,  if yas donts knows yas donts knows. 

Cheers
RicB


    My best guess is that you're right - -if the pins seemed loose or
    jumpy,
    then they were loose and jumpy. There's no excuse for the pins in a
    new piano to
    be this way. In all my years in business - -27 --- I never
    came across a Falcone piano - -there must be a reason. I guess if
    the brand
    were a really good one, it would be popular and lots of people would 
    own them,
     like Yamaha, Kawai, etc.

    Jesse Gitnik
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