Paul: The last I knew Steinway bought Kluge in 1998 and Kelly Plate Co. in 1999. dp ______________________ David M. Porritt dmporritt at gmail.com -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul Williams Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 5:07 PM To: davidlovepianos at comcast.net; pianotech at ptg.org; caut at ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts:OT RANT So why does Perlman use his coveted 1715 violin, and Yo Yo Ma use either of his coveted ancient instruments ( he used one from 1817 last year here for his concert at Lied Center) over anything produced today? Is it just the old school thought? I'll check out the article tomorrow.I know how some people just can't have anything but a Steinway made in the '20's, but I've heard a few recently made or rebuilt that sound awesome..like one of our D's originally built in the late '80's but now all rehab to a point, and sounded great for several concerto's: Dare I say; It has Hamburg hammers!!!?? All else is your regular " NY parts"...whatever that means anymore; Yes new Kluge keys. On a side note: I'm finishing up on the L that some people gave me grief about. Yes, I got the capstans perfectly in place and backchecks too, no thank you; you nay-sayers! (RN and another 1 or 2)) These are keys made by a great maker in Oregon. I'll back him up that his keys are just as precise as Kluge's, if not better. If it makes ya'll feel better, I used the original 80 year old caps! As Steinway as I can get it. Pisses me off that some people come on this site and think I can not do a spectacular job when not having done something before: so to you naysayers; I did it! I received spectacular shop education in the past, have great woodworking and other shop skills, installed everything and it's right on the money! Geometry is spot on, backchecks right on, and it's coming along just fine! I learned from some of the best in the business on hand who actually cared, so I know what I'm doing even when alone. I just asked for help once in awhile; having never done something. I know how it works, just needed a shoulder to lean on. Thanks to you who helped me and to those of you who didn't; Well...you know what to do. You always do! Thanks Paul On 5/1/12 3:52 PM, "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net> wrote: >Check out the article in the Economist about a month or two ago >comparing the sound of various vintage violins against new ones. A >blind listening experiment. I won't ruin it by telling you which ones came out ahead. > >David Love >www.davidlovepianos.com >(sent from bb) > >-----Original Message----- >From: Paul Williams <pwilliams4 at unl.edu> >Sender: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org >Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 20:29:31 >To: pianotech at ptg.org<pianotech at ptg.org> >Reply-To: pianotech at ptg.org >Subject: Re: [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts > >As beautiful as a Strad sounds, the strings made in the day are not >available anymore..or are they? Cat gut just can't be around. >Certainly, a bridge must have been replace in 300 years, but Mr Strad >didn't do it, nor could have. A tuning nut, etc, whatever: When is the line drawn? > >I once was an actual employee for a piano store and was told to shut my >mouth when we held those huge warehouse sales and all I was to do was >tune and look busy! Believe me, that only lasted a few months! I >couldn't stand hearing the salesman push "oh, this piano is all >original and on and on (looking at a 1930's Stark or something they >were trying to push off for $3,500!!!) Ugh! "But look here at this >beautiful new (%* grand you can get for the same price! No problems >with it, one free tuning, and you're good to go for years! > >Paul > > >On 5/1/12 2:57 PM, "Don Hubbs" <donhubbs at mwt.net> wrote: > >>You might try comparing yourselves with the craftsmen who set up other >>fine stringed instruments. There are better and lesser makes of >>violins, etc., but no professional or even good amateur would play one >>right out of the box. They are often modified with better strings, >>bridge adjustments, fingerboard adjustments, etc., without which they >>would often be mediocre at best. >> >>If you are regularly called on to finesse concert instruments, let >>your customer know that, too. >> >>Salesmen are salesmen. They can sell a way too bright piano as "voiced >>for jazz", while keeping a straight face. You have to sell your craft >>as the finesse that makes all the difference. >> >>Don Hubbs >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Encore Pianos [mailto:encorepianos at metrocast.net] >>Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 11:56 AM >>To: pianotech at ptg.org >>Subject: Re: [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts >> >>Well put, Jim. And Steinway plays on that insecurity to the hilt. >> >>Will >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On >>Behalf Of jim at grandpianosolutions.com >>Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 10:41 AM >>To: pianotech >>Subject: [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts >> >>Dale I feel your pain. >> >>However, as a point of constructive discussion, regarding human >>brains in general regarding this problem, I would like to look at this >>problem from a different perspective. As a disclaimer, I'm sure you >>know that I share your passion for piano rebuilding as the committed >>pursuit of beautiful piano sound. (If it weren't for the possibility >>of creating beautiful sound, I'd probably just be selling life >>insurance or some other yuck-and-a-half.) >> >>But...let me set up a hypothetical scenario, with me as a piano buyer >>(assuming by some amazing stroke of unlikely-ness, I had some serious >>bucks to spend on a real nice piano.) >> >>In this scenario, if had come by enough money to manage a one-time, >>big bucks purchase of a piano, (as in get it right, because I wouldn't >>be able to try again), I could easily see myself majorly conflicted >>between a really fine rebuild and a big name-brand piano purchase. >>Being brutally honest with myself, in my mind, given the funds to >>purchase a big name brand, I believe I would be conflicted in choosing >>a rebuild over a big name-brand piano despite that fact that the >>conflict goes against my very existence as a life long >>artisan-craftsperson/musician, and despite the fact that I know as a >>technician how lousy these new brand -name pianos sound on the "lot". >> >>Having only one shot at the "right" piano, especially when the >>acquisition of that "right" piano is so central to my experience of >>music, I know that the decision would have a great likelihood of >>creating some base line of disappointment. And, though its >>irrational, and goes against everything that I know about lousy pianos >>sounding on the big-name piano "lot", the "authority" which brand >>names acquire would tempt me to put my trust in the brand as something >>larger and more authoritative than a single guy in his >>shop...therefore more likely of avoiding disappointment. >> >>My reasoning above is convoluted, irrational, and just plain bulls..t. >>However, I also know this line of thought needs to be countered in the >>working of my own mind. I pin the conflict on some sort of >>evolutionary detritus, but there it is, despite the fact that it gnaws >>at the very foundations of who I am as an artisan...but...still...it >>is there if I am honest with myself. >> >>I solved this problem by making my own piano. it removes the money >>from the equation, and gives me control over the outcome, as well as >>tools ton overcome shortcomings. >> >>But I cheated. >> >>Customers don't have this control, and are utterly dependent on others >>for the outcome of their quest. >> >>Just some thoughts, as I mull over how one can actually sell a fine >>rebuild, regardless of how excellent the rebuild is, when we all are >>evolutionarily still somewhere at the level of a bloody pickerel. >> >>Jim Ialeggio >> >>-- >>Jim Ialeggio >>jim at grandpianosolutions.com >>(978) 425-9026 >>Shirley, MA >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >
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