[CAUT] Steinway selection

[Douglas Wood]

Well, yes, one can see it that way. But then what about the clients  
that choose the piano whose tone is so "underdeveloped". Or the ones  
that are drawn to the overly bright hammers because it's so immediate.  
I'm suggesting that we as techs can try to learn to separate the  
"inherent sound" from the tone development. And help buyers/selectors  
choose an appropriate character. Getting the piano to "stay there" is  
definitely our job, IMO.

Doug

On Feb 17, 2011, at 2:19 PM, David Love wrote:

> It's effective but it sure can be misleading.  Since Steinway  
> hammers are so
> lacquer dependent and the treatment is somewhat random, you can walk  
> away
> from a piano with an otherwise "perfect" belly thinking that it is  
> lifeless
> because the hammer was not prepped or not prepped properly and latch  
> onto
> one that seems to have more projection only to find that it quickly  
> becomes
> edgy, strident or with more whump than whine once the hammer firms  
> up some.
> Some manufacturers (or dealers) do a better job than others in the  
> prep work
> that at least gives you a better chance to know what's really there  
> just
> sitting down at the bench.  With others, and I think Steinway tends  
> to fall
> into this group, you almost have to work on the piano to really feel
> confident about what you're going to get--and then hope it stays  
> there, but
> that's another issue.
>
> David Love
> www.davidlovepianos.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
> Douglas Wood
> Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2011 1:37 PM
> To: caut at ptg.org
> Subject: [CAUT] Steinway selection
>
> <snip>... I've witnessed a lot of retail
> selections, and one of the most effective techniques in getting the
> selection actually made is to offer contrasting pianos. If they're too
> similar, then the choice is difficult. It has been interesting to
> note...<snip>...
>