Knabe grand reputation

[Delwin D Fandrich]

----- Original Message -----
From: Ray T. Bentley <Ray@Bentley.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: June 27, 2000 5:48 AM
Subject: Re: Knabe grand reputation


> THE piano that has caused me the most grief in my 23 years as a piano
> technician is a Knabe built about 1975.  At every tuning there are hammers
> out of alignment rubbing on each other, among other maladies.  Often extra
> calls were made in between tunings, too.  I think the hammer shanks were
> installed randomly with no attention paid to the direction of the grain!
> Almost anything you can think of has been wrong with this piano from the
> beginning.  Poor workmanship throughout!  To make it worse, it is owned by
> an elderly lady who bought it as her "dream" piano as she neared
retirement!
> She finally gave it to her daughter after her sister died and left her a
> Steinway "O" built about 1914!  At last she has a fine instrument.
>
> Ray T. Bentley, RPT
> Alton, IL
-------------------------------

Ray,

That was not a Knabe.  That was an Aeolian.  Big difference.  But it does
bring up the ethical question of putting a well respected product name on
the 'piano' of your choice -- regardless of quality, design, country of
origin, etc.  Especially when simultaneously claiming the historic heritage
of said well respected product name.

Del