[pianotech] The End of Piano Making in Britain

[Alan Forsyth]

Of course, the Kembles coming out of that factory were merely Yamaha U1's, U3's and the smaller Yamahas in disguise. The Kemble name will actually still remain as the factory is effectively transferring to the Philippines. It's another chapter in the diaspora of western technology. Quality control may actually improve. There has been many a new Kemble that I have come across which I felt like sending back to the factory as nearly every single string on it was false. The people at Kemble actually admit that they do not spend as much time toning the hammers as they would like to. The result is that these pianos have a very boring sound; they don't sing or have a tone that would make you want to buy it. Give me a piano made a century ago anyday! Each brand seemed to have it's own distinctive sound and magic. It's a bitter disappointment when you walk into a showroom these days only to find nothing that excites you ...... they all sound the same!

        "And there are precious few rebuilding workshops, and the ones that
             exist....."

We discovered long ago that rebuilding pianos would not make you rich, It's easier and more financially viable to sell new pianos. Those that have stores and showrooms have become multi millionaires.

       " People are still buying and playing pianos, but they are of course                 made in China."

It's also sad when even the local blind school disposes of all their acoustic pianos in favour of electronic ones, of course so that they don't have to spend money on having them tuned.

AF




  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: david at piano.plus.com 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Friday, October 02, 2009 12:14 PM
  Subject: [pianotech] The End of Piano Making in Britain


  The closing down of Kemble this month sees the end of piano manufacture in
  Britain.

  It's a long time since any grand pianos were made here, and now there will
  be no uprights either.  It's kinda sad really.

  As far as training for new tuner/technicians goes, how will there be any?

  It seems that there is very little "demand" in terms of young people
  wanting to train in this field.  There is only one course left, at Newark
  in Nottinghamshire, and even that course seems to be hanging by a thread.

  And there are precious few rebuilding workshops, and the ones that exist
  tend to be one-man busiesses who cannot afford to take on and train
  apprentices.

  People are still buying and playing pianos, but they are of course made in
  China.

  What will happen over the next few years?


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