Samicks pianos

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Glenn:

The American manufacturers shot themselves in the foot before the Korean
manufacturers were a real threat. There is only one American manufacturer
that survived the decline and that was the Walter Piano Co. Their commitment
to quality is what saved them. All the rest went down the tubes including
Steinway (sold 3 times), Baldwin (sold one time), Chickering Knabe M&H etc.
winter and its multiple names (sold two or three times), Everett (sold once)
Story & Clark (sold twice), The Japanese piano had the greatest effect upon
the American market until the Koreans discovered that quality is the way to
go. Yamaha has shown that with the right management pianos can be made well
even in America. Kawai and Samick are trying to do the same here. Let us 
not cry about the Chinese pianos. It is Americans and Japanese who are 
helping them start to do it right. Bub Corey from the original Wurlitzer
plant has been over there for over ten years. Roger Weisensteiner has been
over there for about 3 years. The main problem as I see it and as Del F.
sees it is that American design work stopped 20 or 30 years ago. Wurlitzer
knew how to manufacture. They just didn't consider R&D to be as important.
Winter never did consider R&D at all. Baldwin gave some consideration to
R&D. Steinway tried an ill fated improvement which took them 20 years to
get over. They are playing catchup now. It's going to be tough for them
competing from a high cost labor market.

You can believe very little what some salesmen will say just to nail a sale.
Don't sweat your misguided friends comments.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Thu, 24 Sep 1998, Glenn wrote:

> 
> 
> >Hi to everyone:
> >
> >I've noticed a bit of bashing of the Samick lately. I just thought I'd
> >put in a plug for them.
> 
> >Jim Coleman, sr.
> 
> Hi Jim and All.
> 
> A long time tuner and a friend of mine gets all bent when I tell him I
> recommended a Samick to a family that wanted a nice grand for 5 or 6
> thousand.  He is not a member of this list.  He tells me how the people who
> manufacture these pianos are treated.  He goes on to say how much they hate
> Americans.  He says their government refuses to accept many (if any) US made
> products.  He keeps going about how many good US manufacturers were put out
> of business by the Korean brands who would just keep dropping  their prices
> until it happened.  He gets very emotional about this, almost as if he lost
> a family member to the war or was even in it himself.  When I filter out his
> emotions I am left with some questions.
> 
> I do think Samicks are a good value and can become a halfway decent piano
> with A LOT of work.  I think Young Changs are even better but his words sure
> do give me pause.
> 
> Glenn.
> 
>