[CAUT] The demise of the American piano industry

[Brent Fischer]

Mr. Bousel,
   With all due respect Aaron I don't consider my opinion a minority one.
Secondly, who made Mr. Fine's instrument acumen the " last word " or
his analysis the " bible " of the industry.  As the last of the greatest
American made pianos fade into the sunset there will be even the 
occasional Mason and Hamlin growing daises in  your local dump. The
comparison that Fine makes with the Chinese industry would leave the
laymen believing that they are just as well made as the original specs
of pianos that were light years ahead of anything made in China.

    It all starts with the carcass, just have to compare and contrast with
specs that have been historically superior.  There has never been a foreign 
made piano anywhere that could hold it's own on stage with a Baldwin or
Mason much less a Steinway. I don't categorize the Hamburg as foreign.

    Final comment:  The last time I drove over Fine's book with my truck
was when he made his biblical judgement that European instruments 
are as good as our currently US made Steinways.
Like I said, he's not our spokesman.
 

________________________________
 From: Aaron Bousel <abousel at comcast.net>
To: caut at ptg.org 
Sent: Wednesday, August 1, 2012 3:24 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] The demise of the American piano industry
 

Here's a link to the whole article, including a video.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/arts/music/for-more-pianos-last-note-is-thud-in-the-dump.html?pagewanted=all 

First: Larry is hardly responsible for the juxtaposition of his comment
and the photo of an old Knabe grand.
Second: You don't know the context of his remarks, that is, what question
was asked by the reporter that elicited the quote that was used. In the
context of 80 to 100+ year old verticals it certainly fits and his
comment doesn't endorse the purchase of a digital piano, it just states
the reality of the marketplace.
Third: You've "always said" that Larry Fine doesn't know what
he's talking about? OK, you're entitled to your opinion (albeit a
minority one within the industry), but don't base it on one out of
context quote from a newspaper article. 

Aaron

At 07:25 AM 8/1/2012, you wrote:

NY Times  7-30-12.....Music
Article
>
>  On the front page of the digital NY Times  " For More
Pianos, Last Note 
>is the Thud in the Dump"
>
> " Instead of spending hundreds or thousands to repair an old
piano, you
>can buy a new one made in China that's just as good, or you can buy a
digital
>one that doesn't need need tuning and has all kinds of bells and
whistles," said
>Larry Fine, the editor and publisher of Acoustic & Digital Buyer
" the industry bible.
>
>The picture seen around the world is of a vintage Knabe grand being
trashed.
>Confirms what I've always said, he doesn't know what he is talking
about.
>
>Brent Fischer
>30 yr. member of the PTG / Registered Craftsman / retired

------------------------------------------
Aaron Bousel
Registered Piano Technician, Piano Technicians Guild
info at bouselpiano.com
(413) 253-3846 (voice &
fax) 
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