Hello folks, Jim wrote: "In regard to the "acoustic" piano debate, I must add that the word piano has an entirely different meaning to people in Germany and other European countries. They use the word piano to designate "vertical piano" whereas when they are talking about Grand pianos they call it a wing (flugel) which comes from the fact that the lid raises like a bird wing. So, in a sense we also use modidiers like Vertical or Grand, but they have a completely different word for each. I don't know how they designate electronic versions. Perhaps Barrie of UK or Antares of Amsterdam could enlighten us." In the UK of course, we use the word "Upright" instead of "Vertical". Some action parts are also differently named. But I guess we use the same terminology for electronic versions of pianos. However, I think there is a distinction between PORTABLE (ie - no legs/feet) electronic instruments, and freestanding ones intended for more-or-less permanent positioning. The former would tend simply to be called electronic keyboards, and the 'digital piano' name would be given to the latter. Perhaps because its physical presence is somewhat more akin to that of an upright piano. Delwin wrote: "This was a deliberate (and deceptive) marketing decision on the part of the electronics manufacturers. They knew full well that their new instruments would have much better market acceptance if these things were called "pianos" than they would if they were called anything else. It gave them access to the prestige and social stature of the piano without having to work for it. Logic and integrity and honesty has nothing to do with anything. The dollar/yen/won/mark/etc. reign supreme. In case you hadn't noticed even the word "digital" is beginning to disappear in some ad copy." Interesting comments. I submit that in one important sense ALL PIANOS ARE DIGITAL, since they are all played with the digits! Perhaps we should strike back at the marketing ploy Delwin alludes to, by speaking of REAL pianos. Maybe we should call the electronic ones IMITATION pianos. Actually, I'm not opposed in principle to electronic instruments. But I'm against marketing people saying they are something they're not. Mind you, that isn't new in the piano trade. Britain is still awash with 90 year-old verticals that say "Upright Iron Grand" on the nameboard. This was put on cheap and nasty pianos to fool the purchaser. And even today there are people who believe it - "Oh yes, it's an Upright Grand...." Almost inevitably, it's garbage. A variation is "Upright Iron Grand - Full Check Action" Same difference. Delwin also wrote: "Depth of tone, dynamic tone changes with variations in loudness, the sweet softness and the blazing power, those subtleties and nuances that used to be part and parcel of the piano sound are the things that used to make the piano unique. Now they are commonly found only in a very few select instruments that are available only to a select few." Sad, really, that the affordable pianos are so bright, hard and unmusical. There are still some fine European uprights to be had - I tried tham all late last year - but they are £16000 or £17000 - that's Pounds, not Dollars. What do you think of the Steinway/Kawai BOSTON pianos, folks? Best wishes, David Boyce David@bouncer.force9.net
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