This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Richard Brekne=20 To: pianotech@ptg.org=20 Sent: September 24, 2001 12:50 PM Subject: Re: 1 string, 2 strings, 3 strings or more =20 You're entitled to your opinion. Just don't complain when someone = buys a Petrof because they actually like the way it sounds and when they = are willing to accept the mechanical limitations of the instrument to = get that sound. The mechanical limitations, after all, can mostly be = overcome by a reasonably accomplished technician. The folks buying these = pianos based on their performance are also entitled to their opinions. = And if they manage to save a few thousand in the process...so what? Good = for them. We are all entitled to our opinions, and no doubt have them. That = being said, I have never complained to a customer about their choice of = pianos. And my "opinion" of Petrofs (or any other piano) doesnt come = into this particular equation at all. A poorly manufactured piano is = exactly that... and nothing can change that. Pinblocks that come apart = or are installed such that you can drop a 5 mm thick peice of wood = between the block and the plate are not issues of opinion. Nor are = poorly spun bass strings, nor bridge pins that are sloppy and angled all = over the place, nor agraffes that are turned in all manner of depth and = angles. I also must take issue with the presumption that a field tech = should be expected to deal with these kinds of "limitations" on brand = new instruments that claim to be of quality manufacture. Further, = dealing with these limitations costs money, and there goes any = "savings" out the window... plus some.=20 Sounds like you're describing the S&S pianos I prepped back in the 1970s = and 1980s. Or current Kawai and Yamaha pinblock to plate flange fitting. = While I have limited personal experience with Petrof pianos, quite a few = of my acquaintances have quite a lot and they relate little of what you = describe in the pianos they service. Who am I to believe? (In fairness = to S&S, their build quality has improved quite a bit since then though = most of the design issues remain.)=20 I still maintain that a well designed inexpensive piano can/will = outperform a poorly designed expensive one. It's just that there is a = dearth of well designed pianos available in any price range. (At least = by 2001 design standards. There are quite a few well designed pianos by = 1901 standards.) I dont recall anyone mentioning a problem with piano >>design<< = issues. But ok.. have it your way. I still maintain that a poorly built = piano, regardless of how well designed it is, will remain a poorly built = piano and as such will not outperform much of anything. Yes, it will remain a poorly built piano but it might well outperform = those S&S pianos you're so fond of. At least initially. But this does = bring up another point of performance, and one that is deliberately = hidden (usually) from the original buyer. And that is one of longevity.=20 One reason I've consistently recommended that folks buy pianos like the = S&S, even though I'm fully aware of their faults, is that in fifty or a = hundred years our ancestors will be able to rebuild/remanufacture them = and they will keep on going, serving the musical needs of yet future = generations.=20 I consider this to be a part of the overall performance package. And it = is one reason why I do not endorse some pianos that many on this list = regard as great and wonderful instruments. They are going to be = virtually impossible to rebuild/remanufacture when the time comes. Or = their value will be so low as to make that option financially = unattractive.=20 I have a growing contempt for disposable pianos, modern or old, cheap = vertical or concert grand. The earth does not, and cannot have given = today's population, the resources to continue satisfying society's = desire for cheap, disposable products whether they be pianos or widgets. Del Delwin D Fandrich Piano Designer & Builder Hoquiam, Washington USA E.mail: pianobuilders@olynet.com Web Site: www.pianobuilders.com ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/cb/90/d5/94/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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