[CAUT] comparisons

[Jim Busby]

Hi Dan,

The U3s are indeed much better if you can afford them. We have 26
disklaviers for faculty use and the faculty loves them but the price is
getting to be prohibitive... I like the Schimmel uprights even more than
the U3s. Especially for faculty studios, etc. We only have one right
now.

Here at BYU piano majors and others who need a better piano have a
variety of grands to choose from, so we don't worry too much about the
P22s being a detriment. IMO P22s are fine (for the money) for other
general use and since we have 184 of them I've gotten used to them. They
do seem to hold up better over time than some of the other makes, for
whatever reason.

Regards,
Jim Busby BYU


-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
dan l tassin
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 9:09 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] comparisons

Hi, Ed,

Seems like a  lot of those guys like the P22.   As for the one tuning
those pianos
at Blair, I think it would be a mistake to mix up the piano inventory
with a bunch of P22s
when the better piano really is the U3's.

I know they are a bit more in cost,  but frankly,  I think the 
"serviceability"  of the U3
( being a better built piano, i.e: better scaling, sound, etc of the
piano ) will last LONGER
and perform BETTER to the  "heavy handed"  students that like to pound
on
them.   I
feel the U3 will withstand the "institutional" strains a bit better.  
Just my opinion.

Cost ??    Gee !!  With students paying $40,000 / year at Vandy now,  a
few hundred
dollars ( add on fees )  to cover new pianos replacement should be in
order.   They won't mind it.
But,  I've always been one to advocate and solicit Alumni of the SOM for
donations back
to the Blair SOM for piano replacement.   Offer a  plaque on the piano
with their names
and years at Blair for FULL donation of the cost of one piano.   I'm
sure
between you and
Halliburton you could come up with a number of ways to account for the
added cost when
it comes to purchase of a piano that will last 25-30 years  "IF"  well
taken care of by the
piano tech(s).

You know there are a few P22's in our inventory, and I know that they
are
built cheaper
with the "budget" family in mind.   ( yes, I think schools, too.)   But,
if you had asked me,
my vote would be for the U3's.   In the LONG run, I think the investment
will out-weigh the
cost of repairs / etc.   But, go for what you want.   Budget the cost,
and really,  look into the
ideas of funding that I've suggested.    I'm sure it will work.
There's
a LOT of Alumni folks
who would LOVE to have their names on a plaque, on a piano at their SOM.

 Just write
them a letter.   Then, WATCH the response !!    Believe me, and I don't
have to tell you,
I'm sure there are a LOT of Vandy grads ( Alumni )  out there making
more
/ year than you
and me combined !!    I can tell you,  I would do it for LSU if they had
a call for help from the
SOM Alumni.

Food for thought.   You and the "powers-to-be"  think about it, and I
hope you get the right
piano(s).    Remember,  I work on and tune more uprights than you do.
I
hope I've helped
where these other guys in the CAUT list don't know what I've been tuning
and working on
at Blair.    You might e-mail the other guys in our chapter who tune a
lot of Yamahas.
They, too, might give you some sound ideas.      Think about it.

Let me know if you need any more help on this.   I'm not the most
intelligent on pianos,
but I'm  "Smarter Than The Average Bear !!   Hey-Hey-hey !! "

Danny