[pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts

[David Porritt]

Dale:

 

But isn't that the kind of line you would use if you only had factory
Steinways to sell??  The sales pitch irritates me as it does you, but there
is a corner of my brain that kind of feels sorry for the guys who have to
serve up that kool aid.

 

dp

 

______________________

David M. Porritt

dmporritt at gmail.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Dale Erwin
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 10:25 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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