At 06:24 AM 1/20/2001 -0600, Bill S wrote:
>John, Back in the late 60's and early 70's, there was a company, I
>think in Chicago, that would take existing grands and remove the
>case/furniture. They would install pick-ups, build a custom covering and
>legs for what was left. It could then be transported easier by bands who
>wanted a real piano sound. You must realize this was BD. (before
>digital) I think the company was named Hilfinger or something like that.
Helpenstill. They are apparently back in business again making their piano
pickup system, which sells for about $550. You still see them in live
performance venues once in a while.
I tuned one of those portable stage pianos for Bill McCaulder (Powder
Blues/Willie and the Walkers) years back. As I recall it wasn't very stable
compared to a CP-70/80, but it was a "real piano".
Helpenstill also made a small vertical that folded into its own road case,
but the only examples I saw of those were disasters compared to the Yamaha
"stage" vertical.
John
John Musselwhite, RPT - Calgary, Alberta Canada
http://www.musselwhite.com http://canadianpianopage.com/calgary
email: john@musselwhite.com http://www.mp3.com/fatbottom
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