[CAUT] Rebuilding

[A440A at aol.com]

Dave writes:

<< I went to a piano professor's studio to do some work.  He and one other 
piano

    professor each got new Bs in 2004 so now they each have 1 new B and 1

    60s vintage rebuilt B.  Each of them uses the rebuilt ones as their #1

    piano.  >>

Much the same results here at Vanderbilt.  All 6 of our new instruments were 
gladly received, and within two weeks the problems began to show.  Rather than 
doping all the hammers up, I convinced the faculty to just play them for a 
semester and see where the tone came up to.  After three months, most of the new 
ones were not being used, but then I regulated, repinned, (replaced a LOT of 
nicked front rail pins), etc. and after several years, everybody is happy with 
how they are developing.  
      I still don't know how companies that make 50 times as many pianos as 
Steinway does are able to deliver them in such superior shape.  And why can't 
they go find the key spacer that is still ruining front rail pins, (and the 
bushing cloth in short order, too).  Why can't they drill the plates consistantly 
enough so that they don't have to have travelling hammershanks to hit the 
strings from their perfectly even hammer line at rest? 
    I see a lot more craftsmanship in the instruments below serial number 
330,000. 
I like the pianos, but I love the work they require! 
Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html