[CAUT] The demise of the American piano industry

[Susan Kline]

I'm sorry to hear that, Dale. The S&S B's and D's I look after from that 
era seem
just fine, and everyone seems to like them. Maybe our people picked better?

Susan

Dale Erwin wrote:
> I love when some really tells the truth about how it really is.  In Modesto at the highly esteemed and beloved Gallo arts center there is a 6 or 8 year old B. Most in the know has a strong disliking to it. Teachers, pianist, piano technicians. Its not going to get better. But hey someone got to go pick out this dog at the mother ship. I will not go to hear any thing when it used.
>  Wow am I sarcastic tonight. I'll go away now. 
> Long live the emperor new clothes! Aye!
>  
>
> Thank you Andrew.
>
>
> Dale Erwin R.P.T.
> Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc.
>  Mason & Hamlin/Steinway/U.S. pianos
> www.Erwinspiano.com
> Phone: 209-577-8397
>
>
>
> 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. 
>
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> 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.
>  
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>   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 commentand the photo of an old Knabe grand.
> Second: You don't know the context of his remarks, that is, what questionwas asked by the reporter that elicited the quote that was used. In thecontext of 80 to 100+ year old verticals it certainly fits and hiscomment doesn't endorse the purchase of a digital piano, it just statesthe reality of the marketplace.
> Third: You've "always said" that Larry Fine doesn't know whathe's talking about? OK, you're entitled to your opinion (albeit aminority one within the industry), but don't base it on one out ofcontext quote from a newspaper article. 
>
> Aaron
>
> At 07:25 AM 8/1/2012, you wrote:
>
> NY Times  7-30-12.....MusicArticle
>
>   On the front page of the digital NY Times  " For MorePianos, Last Note 
> is the Thud in the Dump"
>
>  " Instead of spending hundreds or thousands to repair an oldpiano, you
> can buy a new one made in China that's just as good, or you can buy adigital
> one that doesn't need need tuning and has all kinds of bells andwhistles," 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 beingtrashed.
> Confirms what I've always said, he doesn't know what he is talkingabout.
>
> 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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