Digital

[David Boyce]

Hello folks,

Jim wrote:
"In regard to the "acoustic" piano debate, I must add that the word piano 
has an entirely different meaning to people in Germany and other European
countries. They use the word piano to designate "vertical piano" whereas
when they are talking about Grand pianos they call it a wing (flugel) which
comes from the fact that the lid raises like a bird wing. So, in a sense we
also use modidiers like Vertical or Grand, but they have a completely 
different word for each. I don't know how they designate electronic 
versions. Perhaps Barrie of UK or Antares of Amsterdam could enlighten us."

In the UK of course, we use the word "Upright" instead of "Vertical".  Some
action parts are also differently named.
But I guess we use the same terminology for electronic versions of pianos. 
However, I think there is a distinction between PORTABLE (ie - no
legs/feet) electronic instruments, and freestanding ones intended for
more-or-less permanent positioning.  The former would tend simply to be
called electronic keyboards, and the 'digital piano' name would be given to
the latter.  Perhaps because its physical presence is somewhat more akin to
that of an upright piano.

Delwin wrote:   
"This was a deliberate (and deceptive) marketing decision on
the part of the electronics manufacturers. They knew full well that their
new instruments
would have much better market acceptance if these things were called
"pianos" than they
would if they were called anything else. It gave them access to the
prestige and social
stature of the piano without having to work for it. Logic and integrity and
honesty has
nothing to do with anything. The dollar/yen/won/mark/etc. reign supreme. In
case you
hadn't noticed even the word "digital" is beginning to disappear in some ad
copy."

Interesting comments.

I submit that in one important sense ALL PIANOS ARE DIGITAL, since they are
all played with the digits!

Perhaps we should strike back at the marketing ploy Delwin alludes to, by
speaking of REAL pianos.  Maybe we should call the electronic ones
IMITATION pianos.

Actually, I'm not opposed in principle to electronic instruments.  But I'm
against marketing people saying they are something they're not.  Mind you,
that isn't new in the piano trade.  Britain is still awash with 90 year-old
verticals that say "Upright Iron Grand" on the nameboard.  This was put on
cheap and nasty pianos to fool the purchaser.  And even today there are
people who believe it - "Oh yes, it's an Upright Grand...."  Almost
inevitably, it's garbage.
 A variation is "Upright Iron Grand - Full Check Action"  Same difference.

Delwin also wrote:
"Depth of tone, dynamic tone changes with variations in loudness, the sweet
softness and the
blazing power, those subtleties and nuances that used to be part and parcel
of the piano
sound are the things that used to make the piano unique. Now they are
commonly found only
in a very few select instruments that are available only to a select few."

Sad, really, that the affordable pianos are so bright, hard and unmusical. 
There are still some fine European uprights to be had - I tried tham all
late last year - but they are £16000 or £17000 - that's Pounds, not
Dollars.

What do you think of the Steinway/Kawai  BOSTON pianos, folks?

Best wishes,

David Boyce
David@bouncer.force9.net