My only guess is that it eventually comes down to cost (as most everything does in thie country). I have witnessed first hand the excellent craftsmanship in the factory as well as having to do the dealer prep. It is amazing they are the same pianos! In defense of S&S, they make pianos almost the same way they have for the past 150 years. Any change they may make to their manufacturing techniques would be to the gleefull "I told you so" of their competitors. Meanwhile, New York has become a city of 9 million people and the enviromental standards for what they let into their air has changed considerably - like dust and lacquer vapors. The way people heat and build their homes has changed a lot in the past 150 years, creating a broader range of climate (humid to dryness) in most American homes. Part of the cost factor, apart from the mere idea of trying to manufacture something in a place as high priced as New York, is the amount of time something like wood can sit around to stabilize. The piano may work perfectly in the factory during its final quality control inspection, and develop sticking keys and dampers 8 months later sitting in a customer's home. Another PTG member once gave an analogy concerning Steinway pianos. He said that if one were to engage in the sport of target shooting, that one would purchase the best quality rifle on the market, then pay a gunsmith to refine it. I always tell Steinway clients that the piano is designed to last a lifetime; it may be a little too "tight" in places at first, but that is better than "too loose"; - that it will probably take 2 to 3 years for the piano to settle down, and that it is worth the wait. And, most of my homeowner clients have been very pleased with their purchase. Carol Beigel, RPT Greenbelt, Maryland >From: "Kevin E. Ramsey" <ramsey@extremezone.com> >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org >To: <pianotech@ptg.org> >Subject: Re: Who needs,,,,,,,,,, >Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 21:33:27 -0700 > >I agree, they are indeed wonderful instruments, but why are they so in need >of "finishing?" >Kevin E. Ramsey, R.P.T. >ramsey@extremezone.com _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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