Bruce- The piano prof. at Central College and I have a mutual friend. We were passing through on a trip. The College, and professor, have wonderful instrument collections. The other Fazioli had tight key bushings and (maybe) tight flange bushings, probably humidity induced. My impression was that with a few hours work it would have been spectacular. The technician in charge called me in for a supporting opinion, since the owner could not accept the idea that his Fazioli was anything less than perfect. The owner called the dealer who sent a salesman to lather him up with Fazioli stories, and so far as I know, nothing was done to improve the piano. (This dealer is not our North Carolina dealer, by the way, who is a fine piano technician. Chances are this customer first tried Faziolis in North Carolina, then did a web search for his bargain dealer.) By the way, I have nice customers, some of whom give me carte blanche to do whatever I can to make their pianos as fine as possible. It makes work delightful. Ed -----Original Message----- >From: "Bruce D. Rempe" <bruce at iDataDesigns.com> >Sent: May 15, 2006 5:04 PM >To: ed440 at mindspring.com, pianotech at ptg.org >Subject: RE: FAZIOLI on the radio in .... And my personal experience.... > >Mr. Sutton, > >You're probably correct that - like steinway - it's not appropriate to >extend one experience to encompass the entire brand/line. > >What was the occasion upon which you were able to play the Central College >Fazioli? > >What was the causal nature of the friction problem with the other instrument >you examined? > >-bruce > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org >> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of ed440 at mindspring.com >> Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 3:52 PM >> To: Pianotech List >> Subject: Re: FAZIOLI on the radio in .... And my personal >> experience.... >> >> Hello Bruce, >> >> I have played that piano, and it is a wonderful instrument. I >> was able to play with articulation far beyond my usual >> abilities. I have never played another instrument like it. >> >> I was also called in to examine a Fazioli that was not >> playing very well, due to excessive friction. The owner was a >> well-off amateur, in love with his expensive instrument, in >> love with his belief that he had bargained the dealer down >> 20%, and in love with the stories of Maestro Fazioli >> personally selecting the soundboards from the "Stradivari >> Forest." So far as I know, he has not had the friction >> problem corrected. >> >> That's the way it is, getting rich people to buy piano >> furniture. Good practice letting go of anger. >> >> Ed Sutton >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >From: "Bruce D. Rempe" <bruce at iDataDesigns.com> >> >Sent: May 15, 2006 4:07 PM >> >To: 'Pianotech List' <pianotech at ptg.org> >> >Subject: FAZIOLI on the radio in .... And my personal experience.... >> > >> >Hello List! >> > >> >I have been away for several days, and while I received your various >> >messages, I was unable to actually participate on this topic until I >> >had a chance to download and listen to the recording myself. >> > >> >I agree that the recording is somewhat limited in it's fidelity, and >> >it's always so hard to tell the nuances central to pianos and their >> >music when not physically standing before the instrument itself. >> > >> >None-the-less, and aside from this recording/program, I >> wanted to let >> >you know that my little alma mater (Central College of Pella IA) >> >acquired a Fazioli F278 a number of years ago (it was >> gifted). About a >> >year and a half ago I was there attending the annual homecoming >> >weekend, and was allowed access to the instrument for an >> extended period. >> > >> >I am not a pianist by trade (I was never that good), but I >> was a piano >> >major while at college. I continue to play on a very >> amateur level -- >> >mostly church and like events. But, I've never lost my >> great love and >> >fascination with the instrument itself. >> > >> >While I played the Fazioli I could only say WOW!! I was in >> love. What >> >an amazing instrument! >> > >> >While that was now about 18 months ago, I do remember specifically >> >feeling that the instrument had an amazing ability to provide >> >tremendous clarity and articulation without ever sounding harsh or >> >shrill, and had true consistency in it's sound and >> performance across the entire spectrum of the keyboard. >> >The sustain lasted what seemed like forever. It could produce HUGE >> >volumes of sound, as well as the most amazing ppp -- while never >> >failing to deliver exactly the intended result from my fingers. >> > >> >All-in-all, it remains in my mind as the most amazing piano >> that I've >> >ever encountered. >> > >> >I don't know how many of you have experienced this brand and/or have >> >access to them. The professors at this small college remain good >> >friends of mine (especially the principal piano professor), >> and I might >> >be able to arrange a visit for the local (or state) chapter >> and visitors if interested. >> > >> >Thank you all for your amazing contributions to this list! >> > >> >-bruce >> > >> > >> > >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org >> >> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of PIANISSIMO >> PIANOFORTE >> >> S.L. >> >> Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 1:32 AM >> >> To: Pianotech List >> >> Subject: Re: FAZIOLI on the radio in .... whenever you are >> ready for! >> >> >> >> Hi Ric, >> >> >> >> I know, the program was COMPLETE UTTER BULLSHIT!!! >> >> >> >> It was more like advertising more than anything... haha, I wonder >> >> what are those "thousands of innovations made by Paolo >> Fazioli...". >> >> The Italians are VERY good at marketing themselves in most things, >> >> some they deserve the fame for (ie. Ferrari, the "pianoplan" >> >> machine!...), others not (don't get me started on the >> olive oil they >> >> buy from Spain and sell as "Italian"). >> >> >> >> Anyway, it was amusing. >> >> >> >> Regards, >> >> >> >> Patrick >> >> >> >> P.S. I can just imagine Mr. Fazioli in his suit, walking round the >> >> forest selecting "the very best" trees for his soundboards! >> >> >> >> >> >> > Hi Patrick, >> >> > I was very disappointed with the programme. It is >> >> unfortunate that, >> >> > in order to appeal to the non expert audience, this type of >> >> programme >> >> > has to be dumbed-down in order to appeal and entertain. >> There was >> >> > some real bollox talked (Dame Ruth from the Menhuin School >> >> was one of >> >> > the worst) and to people like ourselves I thought there was a >> >> > permeating thread of uninformed opinion. >> >> > >> >> > ric >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> Patrick Hinves Ballesta >> >> Afinador/Técnico 610442371 >> >> PIANISSIMO PIANOFORTE S.L. >> >> >> > >> > >> >> >
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