[CAUT] The Well-Prepared Piano

[Waldrop, Craig]

Hello Charles,

Forgive my intrusion, since you were speaking to Fred.  I couldn't help
responded to your message because I know that instrument, or at least I used
to when it was new.  I was working at the Steinway dealer in Dallas at the
time (mid to late eighties).  I believe I prepped it for delivery and flew
out there on two occations to tune for visiting artists (Lorin Hollander and
Horacio Guttierez).

It was a pretty good instrument, but frankly I was horrified by the
condition it was in.  It took me a whole day's work just to make it
playable.  There were, I believe, two principle reasons for this.  First of
all, of course, the radical climatic change from Dallas to El Paso.
Secondly, the piano was not receiving proper maintenance.  I was told at the
time of my arrival that a local tuner had "tuned it yesterday so it would be
in shape for my visit."  There simply was no one available that was capable
of maintaining a new concert grand.  I know that this is not very
encouraging news, but thought I'd better throw my two cents in.  I think
that this piano has languished, neglected and uncared for most of its life.

Respectfully,

Craig Waldrop, RPT
Baylor School of Music
254.710.1723
Craig_Waldrop at baylor.edu


On 3/7/06 8:19 AM, "Charles K. Ball" <ckball at mail.utexas.edu> wrote:

> Dear Fred,
> 
> The photo copy arrived on Friday and I appreciate it very much.
> 
> I flew out to El Paso last week to take a look at the El Paso
> Symphony Orchestra's piano.  It is a 1985 Steinway D that stands
> desperately in need of action and damper work.  I think that
> potentially it is a good instrument.  It has an ivory Kluge keyboard
> and was from the brief period when S&S was using Renner shanks and
> reps in its B's and D's.  I think that it might have a Renner
> backaction as well.
> 
> Apparently they had just started using Guy Nichols to do their prep.
> Do you know any other techs in that area who are capable of high
> level concert work?  Their board may decide to purchase a new piano
> or to rebuild the present one, or both, but whichever option they
> choose, they will need a good technician to maintain the piano.  Is
> that too far for you to travel?
> 
> Best regards,
> Charles