[pianotech] NY Times article on pianos

[Joseph Garrett]

David Love said: 
"We may not like hearing it but fundamentally Fine is correct. It's pretty
hard to ask a customer to spend the thousands it takes to restore an old
upright when they can buy a new Yamaha U1 for $7000." 
 
 
David et al,
That's all fine and dandy, if money is the object. What does one get for
that $7k? Tonally? Not acceptable to me. Aesthetically?DEFINATELY NOT
acceptable to me! I guess it'd be o.k. if I don't mind HD particle board
and shiny black. The company is great in terms of customer satisfaction,
imo. They bend over backwards for us techs. All that is to their credit.
However, butt ugly musically and looks, just don't make it for me. Sorry.
I'm a rebuilder. I put those olde, mouse infested, family treasures back to
what they once were. My clients appreciate that and are willing to pay the
price. Ever since the "entry level" garbage hit the market we've
experienced lesser than stellar pianos, (I hesitate to even use the
word.<G>), that will not last half as long as all those beautiful olde
uprights and grands of the days gone by. Sad. It used to be that buying a
piano was a long term good investment.
Respectfully,
Joe


Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I