Your Opinion Requested

[David ilvedson]

I concur sort of.  I have lots of Baldwins and Wurlitzers from a 
past era and they are going strong.  But if I had the choice I'm 
not sure I would pick them over a Yamaha.  I'd have to see the 
new product.

David Ilvedson, RPT

Date sent:      	Thu, 27 May 1999 11:15:54 -0600
To:             	pianotech@ptg.org
From:           	"Guy, Karen, and Tor Nichols" <nicho@roadrunner.com>
Subject:        	RE: Your Opinion Requested
Send reply to:  	pianotech@ptg.org

> Hi Joel,
> 	I'm pretty strong on the 243's for institutional use. There is no doubt
> that they hold up. Maybe not as elegantly, but one of the things I see a
> fair amount of is abuse. You know, get a couple of students to shuffle the
> units around, etc. The KK's and Yamahas . . .  don't like it much. Cabinets
> can be trashed on any piano, but the 243's don't loose their integrity as
> easily as most of the others. I don't get to see well-used Walters, but the
> ones I do see look like they might hold up as well.
> 	Our extremely dry climate is a factor, too. Aluminum and plastic don't
> maintain structural continuity throughout the action power train, so the
> actions really fall apart, or at least get clacky and out-of-regulation soon.
> 	 I like the actions with 4 brackets, quick-adjusting balance rails,
> well-treated felts in the high-wear areas, adjustable keyslips, and of
> course. . .'snug' pinblocks of the 243's. When well-trained in their youth,
> these things tune up easily, voice easily, have easy access to the action
> (although it's more secure and less likely to fall to vandalism), and
> warranty issues are handled extremely well. For 25 years. For 25 years. Oh,
> and does the school know that the warranty on the 243 is 25 years?
> 	 I work on many 24*'s from many years ago, (alot are blonde,ugh), that are
> still going strong. Where the same venue has 10 year-old KK's and Yamahas
> that are. . . in need of a complete rebuild. If not just plain used-up. For
> players, the music desk/rest is very handy and sturdy. The dip and
> aftertouch are sufficient and easy to change after heavy use, and the bass
> has a superior structure than most other studios in that price range. Well
> voiced, the bass on a 243 just sounds more... like a bass.
> 	I could go on more, at risk of all kinds of flames, etc, but I truly
> believe that there are great places for YC's, KK's, and Yamahas.....
> besides the institutional setting.
> 	Just my opinion. You asked.
> 
> Guy Nichols, RPT
> 
> 
> 
> 
> At 10:46 PM 5/26/99 -0400, you wrote:
> >Dear List,
> >
> >One of the high schools in town is going to acquire new pianos.
> >The choir teacher was told that since Yamaha pianos are built by Young Chang 
> >they would get a better deal for the same quality as Yamaha to buy Young 
> >Chang. It is my opinion YC's do not belong in places where serious music is 
> >studied (for a long list of reasons), but perhaps they have improved under
> my 
> >nose within the last year or two. I know Yamaha builds pianos in Japan and 
> >the US and has some connection with Pearl River pianos, but do they actually 
> >have Young Chang build some of their pianos? And if they do are they the
> same 
> >quality as the Japanese and American Yamahas? Most of the schools I service 
> >have Yamaha P22 or P202, Kawai UST-7 or UST-8C, Baldwin 243, or Charles 
> >Walter studio. What one of these pianos would you recommend the school buy
> or 
> >could you suggest another piano or model. I'm not talking grands right now. 
> >The price per piano must be under $5000.00.
> >
> >Thanks for your input.
> >
> >Joel Swafford, RPT 
> > 
> 


David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net