Paul, You rock! On 5/1/12, Paul Williams <pwilliams4 at unl.edu> wrote: > So why does Perlman use his coveted 1715 violin, and Yo Yo Ma use either > of his coveted ancient instruments ( he used one from 1817 last year here > for his concert at Lied Center) over anything produced today? Is it just > the old school thought? > > I'll check out the article tomorrow.I know how some people just can't have > anything but a Steinway made in the '20's, but I've heard a few recently > made or rebuilt that sound awesome..like one of our D's originally built > in the late '80's but now all rehab to a point, and sounded great for > several concerto's: Dare I say; It has Hamburg hammers!!!?? All else is > your regular " NY parts"...whatever that means anymore; Yes new Kluge > keys. > > On a side note: I'm finishing up on the L that some people gave me grief > about. Yes, I got the capstans perfectly in place and backchecks too, no > thank you; you nay-sayers! (RN and another 1 or 2)) These are keys made by > a great maker in Oregon. I'll back him up that his keys are just as > precise as Kluge's, if not better. If it makes ya'll feel better, I used > the original 80 year old caps! As Steinway as I can get it. > > Pisses me off that some people come on this site and think I can not do a > spectacular job when not having done something before: so to you > naysayers; I did it! I received spectacular shop education in the past, > have great woodworking and other shop skills, installed everything and > it's right on the money! Geometry is spot on, backchecks right on, and > it's coming along just fine! > > I learned from some of the best in the business on hand who actually > cared, so I know what I'm doing even when alone. I just asked for help > once in awhile; having never done something. I know how it works, just > needed a shoulder to lean on. > > Thanks to you who helped me and to those of you who didn't; Well...you > know what to do. You always do! > > Thanks > Paul > > > On 5/1/12 3:52 PM, "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net> wrote: > >>Check out the article in the Economist about a month or two ago comparing >>the sound of various vintage violins against new ones. A blind listening >>experiment. I won't ruin it by telling you which ones came out ahead. >> >>David Love >>www.davidlovepianos.com >>(sent from bb) >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Paul Williams <pwilliams4 at unl.edu> >>Sender: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org >>Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 20:29:31 >>To: pianotech at ptg.org<pianotech at ptg.org> >>Reply-To: pianotech at ptg.org >>Subject: Re: [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts >> >>As beautiful as a Strad sounds, the strings made in the day are not >>available anymore..or are they? Cat gut just can't be around. Certainly, >>a bridge must have been replace in 300 years, but Mr Strad didn't do it, >>nor could have. A tuning nut, etc, whatever: When is the line drawn? >> >>I once was an actual employee for a piano store and was told to shut my >>mouth when we held those huge warehouse sales and all I was to do was tune >>and look busy! Believe me, that only lasted a few months! I couldn't >>stand hearing the salesman push "oh, this piano is all original and on and >>on (looking at a 1930's Stark or something they were trying to push off >>for $3,500!!!) Ugh! "But look here at this beautiful new (%* grand you >>can get for the same price! No problems with it, one free tuning, and >>you're good to go for years! >> >>Paul >> >> >>On 5/1/12 2:57 PM, "Don Hubbs" <donhubbs at mwt.net> wrote: >> >>>You might try comparing yourselves with the craftsmen who set up other >>>fine >>>stringed instruments. There are better and lesser makes of violins, etc., >>>but no professional or even good amateur would play one right out of the >>>box. They are often modified with better strings, bridge adjustments, >>>fingerboard adjustments, etc., without which they would often be mediocre >>>at >>>best. >>> >>>If you are regularly called on to finesse concert instruments, let your >>>customer know that, too. >>> >>>Salesmen are salesmen. They can sell a way too bright piano as "voiced >>>for >>>jazz", while keeping a straight face. You have to sell your craft as the >>>finesse that makes all the difference. >>> >>>Don Hubbs >>> >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: Encore Pianos [mailto:encorepianos at metrocast.net] >>>Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 11:56 AM >>>To: pianotech at ptg.org >>>Subject: Re: [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts >>> >>>Well put, Jim. And Steinway plays on that insecurity to the hilt. >>> >>>Will >>> >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On >>>Behalf >>>Of jim at grandpianosolutions.com >>>Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 10:41 AM >>>To: pianotech >>>Subject: [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts >>> >>>Dale I feel your pain. >>> >>>However, as a point of constructive discussion, regarding human brains >>>in >>>general regarding this problem, I would like to look at this problem from >>>a >>>different perspective. As a disclaimer, I'm sure you know that I share >>>your >>>passion for piano rebuilding as the committed pursuit of beautiful piano >>>sound. (If it weren't for the possibility of creating beautiful sound, >>>I'd >>>probably just be selling life insurance or some other yuck-and-a-half.) >>> >>>But...let me set up a hypothetical scenario, with me as a piano buyer >>>(assuming by some amazing stroke of unlikely-ness, I had some serious >>>bucks >>>to spend on a real nice piano.) >>> >>>In this scenario, if had come by enough money to manage a one-time, big >>>bucks purchase of a piano, (as in get it right, because I wouldn't be >>>able >>>to try again), I could easily see myself majorly conflicted between a >>>really >>>fine rebuild and a big name-brand piano purchase. Being brutally honest >>>with myself, in my mind, given the funds to purchase a big name brand, I >>>believe I would be conflicted in choosing a rebuild over a big name-brand >>>piano despite that fact that the conflict goes against my very existence >>>as >>>a life long artisan-craftsperson/musician, and despite the fact that I >>>know >>>as a technician how lousy these new brand -name pianos sound on the >>>"lot". >>> >>>Having only one shot at the "right" piano, especially when the >>>acquisition >>>of that "right" piano is so central to my experience of music, I know >>>that >>>the decision would have a great likelihood of creating some base line of >>>disappointment. And, though its irrational, and goes against everything >>>that I know about lousy pianos sounding on the big-name piano "lot", the >>>"authority" which brand names acquire would tempt me to put my trust in >>>the >>>brand as something larger and more authoritative than a single guy in his >>>shop...therefore more likely of avoiding disappointment. >>> >>>My reasoning above is convoluted, irrational, and just plain bulls..t. >>>However, I also know this line of thought needs to be countered in the >>>working of my own mind. I pin the conflict on some sort of evolutionary >>>detritus, but there it is, despite the fact that it gnaws at the very >>>foundations of who I am as an artisan...but...still...it is there if I am >>>honest with myself. >>> >>>I solved this problem by making my own piano. it removes the money from >>>the >>>equation, and gives me control over the outcome, as well as tools ton >>>overcome shortcomings. >>> >>>But I cheated. >>> >>>Customers don't have this control, and are utterly dependent on others >>>for >>>the outcome of their quest. >>> >>>Just some thoughts, as I mull over how one can actually sell a fine >>>rebuild, >>>regardless of how excellent the rebuild is, when we all are >>>evolutionarily >>>still somewhere at the level of a bloody pickerel. >>> >>>Jim Ialeggio >>> >>>-- >>>Jim Ialeggio >>>jim at grandpianosolutions.com >>>(978) 425-9026 >>>Shirley, MA >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> > > >
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