Square Grands

Bob Anderson fndango@azstarnet.com
Tue, 30 Sep 1997 20:41:05 -0700


Since no one else dares to stand up for sq. grands, I guess I will, fool
that I may be. Although every square I have ever worked on has given me
a painful experience, I must say that I have left a few of these coffins
with grateful customers. I would rather tune the worst piano in the
world for someone who would try to play it than tune a beautiful grand
piano for a customer who doesn't care about it.

If you will also think back 150 years or so, both Mrs. Smith and Chopin
lived with the pianos of the time, before the advent of the modern
grand. It is possible for more music to come out of one of these ancient
instruments than ever comes out of some of the nice new pianos I have
occasion to tune.

Yes, there must be a good reason to try to make a working musical
instrument out of a square grand. Maybe it's better left alone or turned
into a desk. But it shouldn't be categorically denied a chance. 

The odds are that the square mentioned in this thread isn't worth
pursuing. But if the owner has a love for it that overcomes the high
expense involved and the poor performance and sound to be expected when
it is compared to a modern piano, then there is certainly some hope.

Bob Anderson
Tucson,AZ


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