[CAUT] SD10 - Final thoughts

[Ron Nossaman]

> Ron, your thoughts on "why" institutions don't usually go
> for rebuilds/rebuilders (below) are at the heart of an
> important issue. The "bean counters" especially seem to
> deem a rebuilt as a second class citizen, and overcoming
> this ignorance can appear nearly impossible. The other
> dynamics you mention are real as well.

They most certainly are (from the other Ron). It takes getting 
a thoroughly and competently rebuilt instrument back into the 
system to even begin to make a scratch in the ignorance, which 
means getting a big enough wedge past the ignorance in a local 
spot to do that, which makes it highly unlikely in most cases. 
If the bean counters could be made to realize (not THERE"S a 
self exclusive concept) the money and quality resources they 
waste by surplussing resurrectable instruments and replacing 
them with new problems, and if the less exalted minions could 
experience the results of a well conceived and executed 
resurrection in direct heads up performance comparison with 
their core workhorse instruments, we might actually stir up 
some dormant brain cells. Or the Mother Ship might land...


> However, with the current economic woes, selling this may
> be easier to do, if the cost is far enough below the cost
> of a new 9'. And that's really sad, because if a piano
> indeed has "quality craftsmanship" and good design, even if
> it costs more than "new" it would be well worth it! 

It certainly would. The danger with that is the reflex to save 
even more and go with the "lowest bidder", in which case it's 
back to new strings and blow out the chunks.


>I'm
> thinking how great it would be if one of you rebuilt this,
> and we put it in a hall having pianists think it was "new"
> how they would most certainly like it. 

See my hand up? I'm waving. <G>


>I'm thinking of how
> we might orchestrate this whole thing. Having piano faculty
> visit such pianos might help too. Lots to ponder.
> 
> Thanks again to all.
> 
> Jim Busby BYU

The more people in the system that are exposed, the better. 
There are untold dormant brain cells out there. I'm saving 
mine, just in case.
Ron N