[CAUT] comparisons

[David Ilvedson]

Speaking of P22s and other Yamaha uprights...all have the silk cord which in time needs replacing...some have the little plates which make the repair easy and some have the flanges...no plate.   Does anyone no if the plates are still in use or being phased out?   I run into some with and without...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044


----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Jim Busby" <jim_busby at byu.edu>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Received: 8/17/2006 12:37:55 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] comparisons


>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