Mr. Fischer When you are dealing with fine pianos you will find that they are quite individual in their characteristics and the choice of a piano becomes a personal one of preference. Teir-1 piano makers are not copying each other and don't have the same goals when it comes to sound and playing characteristics. If you are comparing quality and consistency of manufacture Steinway NY loses, hands down. If the German can't get past union senority issues in NY, Steinway will completely undermine its iconic reputation--self destruct. I, for one, hope it does get control of its QC issues. It would be a shame to lose another American manufacturer. That said, I don't like any of the Steinways I work with. They are getting better but they are all compromised instruments which will not be stellar until re-bellied they way they should be. Quality control was definitely out to lunch on these Ds an Bs. In my store I carry a teir-one German brand and these pianos are obviously better then any NY Steinway I work on. Every performing artist I've had over has fallen in-love with them, some of them under contractual obligation to demand another instrument at performance venues. Unless the only Steinways you encouter are C&A stock, you have missed out on a lot of other fine brands. As to Chinese made pianos, the strides being made there are rapid, much more rapid than the progress that was made by Japanese piano makers. There is a least one brand coming out of China today that is very serious competition for the Japanese makes at their better levels. The world does not stand still. Things do change over time. Keeping track of that is an invaluable service. I do disagree with Fine on occasion but as yet he has no credible competition for the service he provides and I do recommend his service to everyone who asks. Sincerely, Andrew Anderson On Aug 1, 2012, at 4:48 PM, Brent Fischer wrote: > 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) > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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