Automotive analogies

[Farrell]

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And then there is the one area where pianos and cars are dissimilar - =
performance. Most (as in 99+%) car drivers view the car as utilitarian - =
"I need this car to get me here in one piece without a lot of hassle". =
Many (some/whatever) piano players are performance-oriented - at least =
many more than are car drivers. That is they have a greater interest in =
their piano working very well - sounding super-good - playing smooth and =
controllable - again, at least more so than the typical car driver.=20

Although, the piano and the RACE car would be quite comparable in this =
manner. (And yes, unfortunately there are many pianos that serve a =
utilitarian role exclusively - I think of the beat-to-$%&* Samick grand =
I tuned the other day at a big hotel......)

I guess what I am trying to say is that typical car performance is more =
black-and-white, while piano performance has many more shades of grey. =
When you get a new water pump put on your car, the thing is either quiet =
and leak free, or it is not. When you get a new set of hammers or bass =
strings put on your piano, well, I think you can see this now - just =
quite a few more shades of grey!

My 2 cents worth (maybe less)....

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Conrad Hoffsommer" <hoffsoco@martin.luther.edu>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 7:18 AM
Subject: Automotive analogies
>=20
> > > Hello List
> > > It's a funny thing how often I find myself likening something to =
do with
> > > pianos to something to do with cars. Why is this I wonder? At =
least it's
> >not
> > > Religion or Politics!
> > > Regards from a darkening Sussex
> > > Michael G (UK) T.G.I.F.
> > >
>=20
>=20
> Oh, Michael,
>=20
> This is too easy. Many and varied are the links/comparisons which can =
be made.
>=20
> - Cars and pianos are in the same price ranges - both new and used
>=20
> - There have been so many makes and models made over the years that =
making=20
> a good decision concerning the purchase of a used or antique one =
requires=20
> the inspection/assessment of same by a qualified mechanic/technician.
>=20
> - Both are complex mechanical devices which give their owners great=20
> pleasure when they are running right, great frustration if they are =
not and=20
> require experts to service either correctly.
>=20
> - most people have some basic idea of how a car works and have dealt =
with=20
> maintenance issues. Making valid comparisons helps the customer relate =
to=20
> the piano and it's maintenance.
>=20
> - when a piano needs to have hammers replaced, it is easy to compare =
with=20
> getting new ti(y)res.  When they want to put new hammers on a moribund =

> piano you can point out how long tires last on a car that won't start =
or=20
> transmission is shot.
>=20
> - action work is like a transmission adjustment or overhaul, depending =
on=20
> the extent of work required.
>=20
> - when the customer asks if it is worth rebuilding/refinishing their=20
> Naugawurlie/Lindner/Winter, you can compare that to restoring a =
Yugo/Fiat=20
> 1100/Rambler. You surely could improve on the original a little, but =
it'll=20
> never be a Packard/Jaguar/Bentley.
>=20
> - I don't play the piano very well. When people ask how I can work on=20
> pianos but not play well, I say that I'm like a race car mechanic. I =
may be=20
> able to drive the thing around the track, but my job is to prepare the =
car=20
> so that the driver can race it.  After the driver takes a lap or two =
and=20
> comes back making this or that comment, I can tweak the beastie to do =
what=20
> the driver needs (or say why something _can't_ be done ;-).
>=20
> Etc., etc., etc....
>=20
> Others on this list could surely add many similar similies.
>=20
>=20
> Regards from the cornfields of Iowa, sleeping under a fresh blanket of =
snow.
> Conrad Hoffsommer
> Decorah, IA
>=20
> - Certified Calibration Technician for Bio-powered Digitally Activated =

> Lever Action Tone Generation Systems.
> - Pianotech Flamesuit Purveyor
> - Apprentice Curmudgeon
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> 
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