[pianotech] WNG Parts Question(s)

Tue Jul 6 14:27:34 MDT 2010

Ed F/Dale

I understand what you are saying and agree with most of what you say, except, I think many are bashing the Steinway piano and should be bashing the fact that they are shipping them unfinished. I can take the "unfinished when it leaves factory" Steinway and make it an excellent playing and sounding instrument.

When I worked at Steinway as a Tone Regulator and Inspector there were 8 of us in that department taking at least one full day on each piano, voicing and making sure the piano was as good as it could be. Now I think there is just ONE. How could one man do in 40 hours, what it took 8 men to do in 320 hours. I'd say it's impossible. 

So I say, bash the management, bash the way it leaves the factory, but it's still a Steinway and can be made to be a Steinway in the right hands.

Al - 
High Point, NC

  From: Dale Erwin 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 10:17 AM
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] WNG Parts Question(s)

  Al Ed
   Hi Al.  I get what you are saying and all about being popular but Eds take is mine as well. Originally a great design and obviously many of us make a living refining and souping up the originals in many ways.
    I hope they prosper but take pause at the disingenuous marketing before its too late.  One small company drives the industry.  WOW.  All they have to do to make marketing work honestly is to clean up quality control and fire the add guys

  Dale S. Erwin
  www.Erwinspiano.com
  209-577-8397

  -----Original Message-----
  From: A440A at aol.com
  To: pianotech at ptg.org
  Sent: Tue, Jul 6, 2010 5:43 am
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] WNG Parts Question(s)

  Al writes: 

  >>I just don't understand all this Steinway bashing!
  Steinway is on more concert stages than any other piano.
  Steinway is requested by more artist than any other piano.
  What does that say about the Steinway bashers?

  Perhaps, Al, you are not seeing what is being bashed.  The pianos from New York can be made to sound and play great.  However, what is being bashed is the attitude that all Steinways are superior, when experience has told many of us that maybe 10% of Steinways are superior and the other 90% range from good to mediocre, to "I can't believe they would sell such a piece of crap".  
    What is being bashed on is the hypocritical stance the factory maintains.  The public has been sold a bill of goods by all these excessively maintained concert instruments being used to market the brand while many instruments go out well under the standard the factory would have us believe that all pianos meet.  
      From all the years of taking old ones apart, and seeing what the new ones are like, I certainly know that they don't build them today like they did when the company made its reputation, yet they are still carrying on like they do. 
  I think they are trading on the name, and selling some dogs.  It is not just the production line, either.  I know that the restoration department is capable of doing an incredibly shoddy job and stonewalling when the customer complains.  
     It is the arrogance and hypocracy that gets most of the bashing. 
  regards,

  Ed Foote RPT
  http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
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