[pianotech] but will it split

David Skolnik davidskolnik at optonline.net
Thu Dec 25 09:40:40 PST 2008


Well, OK baby,
And I thought I might escape 2008 without one of these.


At 11:19 AM 12/25/2008, you wrote:
>David Skolnik wrote:
>>At 09:54 AM 12/25/2008, you wrote:
>>
>>>The implication being, naturally, that the the only reason to try 
>>>to improve a process is being incapable of doing it the archaic way.
>>>Ron N
>>To quote a highly esteemed source, from a previous thread, other list:
>>>I didn't say anything to even remotely suggest that.
>
>No, you didn't, John did.

No, actually, he didn't.  He expressed his own strong preference, and 
he suggested it was worthwhile to develop the skills necessary to 
regulate the 'archaic' system.  As much as anyone, you're on tenuous 
ground arguing about 'implications'.

>>If you were called upon to do a fine regulation of existing 
>>dampers, would you first pull the tray and install capstans?
>
>Stupid question. If you had to regulate a system with capstans, 
>would you pull the tray and remove them? That's two stupid 
>questions. Now what, are we done with that crap?

First of all, I'd like a ruling from the List Language 
non-monitor.  I don't recall seeing too many "stupid"s or "crap"s in 
any of the lists, ever.  It's a slippery slope, Ron.  As for the 
question, it wasn't stupid, it was rhetorical.   The answer was 'no', 
obviously, I think.  Equally obvious (I think) was my meaning.  There 
is, as yet, still a need for the 'archaic' skill set.


>>Well, would anyone else, other than you?
>
>Other than me? Not so esteemed at all, it seems.

Without emoticons, you chose to mis-interpret my attempt at 
humor.  In spite of it all, you are still esteemed.  On the other 
hand, there are six days left to the year.

>>All I said was that, as I interpreted John's comments, one of his 
>>points was that people did develop the skills to do fine regulating 
>>with the 'archaic' system.
>
>I thought you said in your last message that John doesn't need 
>anyone to speak for him. I must have that wrong too.

Yes, you got it wrong. I said  "John D needs no one to speak for him, 
but ...", which can used to the same effect as "With all due 
respect...".  Your reply quoted me, so it was less than clear whether 
the implication you drew were directed towards me or him.

>>As to whether there are, in fact, any advantages to that system, 
>>I'll forego comment until I've given it more thought, or someone 
>>like yourself suggests some, but, just to refresh my
>>memory: what, again, are the regulating procedures that are 
>>supplanted by the presence of these capstans?  Certainly, all the 
>>work leading up to this phase remains unchanged.
>
>That's been addressed. Capstans are for the final pedal lift timing.

Thanks, but I know what they're for.  The question was, what 
procedures they replace, like shimming, scraping, scorching, etc. I 
thought I might have learned something from responses to that 
question.  Sorry.

>Until you've regulated a set of dampers with capstans, further 
>speculation on your part is mostly meaningless. If you've tried it 
>and liked it, or didn't, so be it. That's your call. If you haven't 
>tried it, you're guessing. The key concept is, as you just said, 
>"whether there are, in fact, any advantages to that system". If 
>you're interested in facts, please find out by experience.

This last paragraph is probably more outrageous than the 'stupid' or 
'crap', referred to above.  Not only did you misconstrue the thrust 
of my comments - I was not advocating for one method or the other, 
given the option - but to call my speculation "meaningless" is 
neither constructive or objective, meaning, somewhere in the past, I 
made it to your crap-list.  I think it was about downbearing.  While 
I don't have your range of experience, there have been a couple of 
occasions where that speculation provoked some interesting exchanges, 
thus, I'll continue to reserve my rights to the speculative mode, thank you.

With great cheer,

David Skolnik
Hastings on Hudson, NY

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