Hi I didn't suggest replacing spruce soundboards to "save the trees"....Im not one of THOSE nutty tree huggers, It is just the fact that IMHO, piano design as been about the same for 80 years and the builders has become rather stagnant. But with all these new synthetics today, some may be great to use in today's pianos. Think about it.....No more cracked soundboards, No more pitch changes due to humidity. the crown is 'molded' in the soundboard at the factory and can be controlled. The keyboard people have taken many sales from piano people. I haven't seen a keyboard built yet that would match the charm, tone or power of a REAL piano, not even close! A friend of mine who runs a music store told me that often the deciding factor in choosing a keyboard VS an acoustic piano is that the acoustic requires much maintenance than the keyboard, IMO, the keyboard won't last 80+ years either like a good piano will. I would like to know........Who first designed the spinet piano? I would like to take that person behind the barn and whip the devil out of him. Those things are awful........but still are being built. The public are being hoodwinked...........I have often bought good upright pianos that the stores get in on a trade. It is a shame too......The old upright piano they traded in was far better than the new one they just bought! But still, Against an increasing threat by the keyboard people, The piano builders should go back to the drafting board and design something that sounds great, That is stable, Will last a long time, And be competitive in the market. Just musing :) Andy Taylor
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