[pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts

[David Love]

I hope y'all weren't thinking that there was no one out there who actually
thought that way!  My only surprise is that you (Dale) haven't run into one
before.   I think it was Del who said to me once that the piano world was
divided into two basic camps, those you have had things happen and those who
have yet to have things happen, or something like that.  I guess you've
crossed over.  

 

I get asked that question all the time by people about everything from
hammer replacement, action rebuilds, stringing jobs, and new soundboards.
How you respond is everything (as Ed Foote suggested).  Some people will
only buy Steinways from Steinway and some will only buy them if they are not
from Steinway (or the Steinway dealer).  It's cuts both ways and isn't that
big a deal.   You benefit from doing it differently as often as it seems
like it might hurt you.  Mostly, you probably benefit.  

 

So quit whining and get on wit ya life (that would be a grin).   People get
the piano they deserve generally.

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Encore Pianos
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 9:52 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts

 

Hi Dale:

 

I feel your pain, brother.  When I sold new pianos and rebuilds as well, we
had a totally rebuilt Mason & Hamlin BB for sale.  When it was complete, it
was one of the nicest sounding pianos I have ever done.  The voicing was
over the top luscious - chocolaty, velvety tenor.  It was my two chord
wonder - pianists would sit down, play two chords, and start making orgasmic
sounds.  The story here is that I had 3 serious buyers tell me that it was
the best piano they had ever heard, better than any Steinway they had
played.  But they would not buy it because they wanted a  Steinway.

 

Well, at least yours is a Steinway!

 

I think it's time to be a salesman.  I know you are always a gentleman, and
will be so with this customer.  Hopefully, you have this customer's e-mail
address or mailing address, because this may be a better way to approach her
again.  Your comments to us are unfortunately preaching to the choir, but
that does not make what you will say to her any less true.  

 

I might begin by speaking about the soundboard.  If the board in this board
came from a first growth tree, you could sell her on the differences on the
first growth trees of that day versus the second growth, smaller trees with
wider grains that manufacturers are forced to buy today because of the
depleted forests. Tell her what you hear coming from that board.  Tell her
don't take my word for it, I respect your intelligence and ear.  Play it for
yourself and make your own judgment as to how it sounds to you as a
discriminating player.   

 

Sell her on the higher quality materials that you used elsewhere in the
rebuild.  Bass strings are a good example.  A lot of us do not use factory
bass strings because they are inferior to what our best bass string makers
can supply us.  Tell her that Steinway does not make its own bass strings,
they are made by a supplier who makes bass strings for a lot of makers.  You
don't like their strings because they are full of false beats, winding
lengths uneven, - whatever the reasons are that you don't use them,
honestly.  I wouldn't be afraid to say that their strings are not of
sufficiently high quality, and that there are other materials that are of
better quality, and those are the ones you use.  It is not a question of
price, it is one of quality.  But don't take my word for it, play for
yourself and you be the judge.  

 

Sell her on the reasons why you have not used their hammers in the past.  We
all know they have had their good periods and their bad periods when the
hammers were pretty so so.  You believe that the piano has a wonderful
Steinway sound, but don't take my word for it, play it for yourself and you
be the judge.  

 

Sell her on past successes.  You have rebuilt instruments placed in concert
forums.  You have worked for serious professional pianists and amateurs.
Pick someone or two who have had your pianos or rebuilds for several years
or more.  Ask them if you can make a referral to them for this customer.  

 

Here's a thought:  Invite her again to come and play the instrument.  Offer
to buy her and her husband or partner dinner at a good local eatery if she
does not agree that it is a solid and respectable instrument of high quality
in touch and tone and character after she has auditioned it.  That doesn't
mean that it has to be the right piano for her, that is very personal
decision, as we know.  

 

Tell her it's a missed opportunity otherwise.  Sell her with confidence what
you know to be true about this piano.  

 

Good luck Dale,

 

Will      

 

 

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Dale Erwin
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 11:25 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts

 

Hi Guys
   Well it finally happened, a prospective client who was scheduled to see a
very nice Steinway B we have for sale and declined  to even come see it
because she spoke with the dealer and learned how non ge-u-whine parts
degrades the piano. Its not s a Steinway anymore! 
This B didn't have the Gen-u-whine Steinway hammers on it. But it had Isaac
hammers on it made with the then, genuine American felt co. felt that
Steinway N.Y. was using at the time. These hammers far more user friendly
and creating an authentic vintage sound with out the usual voicing
gymnastics(large amounts of lac.) we encounter with ge-u-whine Stwy hammers
    This Isaac hammer with this felt are some of the best hammers I ever
worked with /heard. The piano sounds fantastic(of course, what else would I
say?) 
and has a thoroughly custom balanced  action /geometry.  Has a pristine
Calif. preserved genuine Stwy soundboard, No cracks lots of crown and
bearing. 
But, instead of simply coming to see this  beautiful instrument the client
drank the dealer cool aide, swallowed the  marketing hype, hook line and
sinker.
    It seems that with all the information & disinformation floating around
the electronic circles that folks trying to buy rebuilt,vintage Steinways
contract a kind of an analysis paralysis when it come to believing and
seeing whats right under the client fingers and the sound that is in their
ears. 
   In all my years I have not once had a pianist sit down to one of our
restorations, play it, love it, and then ask what kind of parts are in it.
How ridiculous! They judged it on the merits, on the overall experience. Did
it rock their musical world or not? That is what should and does
historically sell high quality pianos of any make. 
  Its what goes into the piano in terms of time, effort, passion and talent
that determine the outcome of a custom restoration no matter what parts are
used or who installed the soundboard. 
  We must encourage clients to judge a piano on its merits, not some slick
disingenuous Steinway factory  marketing B.S. disseminated by dealers who
have no clue what makes for a quality restoration. 
    My son while at north Bennet st. heard a spiel by one of the Stwy
management who shall remain nameless say,"that if you are going to replace a
soundboard or use non factory parts that we should take the name off the
plate and fallboard and install out own names there". Seriously!...simply
delusional !
    If we judged the relatively new B at our local Gallo arts center (with
all genuine Stwy Parts) one can only conclude from it lack of tonal capacity
and irritating sound that the soundboard is a failure. Come to find out its
not just me,... what a relief,.... the local teachers  dislike the piano as
well,....and yet it was CHOSEN......AT THE FACTORY. So now we have the
emperors new clothes living in our beloved arts center to irritate an entire
generation of folks.

  Frankly the all Steinway parts  mantra touted by the Company politics is,
and should be, insulting to us all.
There are many fine parts being made today which work real really well in
Steinways & Mason & Hamlin etc. Many fine makes of hammers. And.... I know
many of you, and many of your shops, many small shops doing  incredible
soundboard & action work that produces performance levels most pianist have
NEVER experienced from any factory piano. 
   Continue to tell the truth, defend your work and let it speak for itself,
no matter what parts are used.
End of rant but simply had enough

  Dale Erwin RPT-
Mason & Hamlin/Steinway/U.S pianos
Pre-hung Ronsen hammer sets/Abel parts
Sitka Soundboards & Supplies
WWW.Erwinspiano.com
209-577-8397


   

  
  

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