Yamaha Damper Felt

[Farrell]

Thanks to all for pointing me toward Schaff. I feel like a bit of a dummy.
I've seen their tools in the catalog - and even ordered some, but I simply
did not realize Schaff sold the felt.

As for Clyde, Idunnno. I believe Yamaha's deal is that they do not want
anyone doing work on grey-market Yamaha pianos. Ok, so they don't want to
support the importation of these pianos in any way. There, I answered your
question Clyde. Now, why do they sell parts through Schaff? This is really
weird.

So Clyde, you want to know what I think of some of Steinway's marketing
antics? Well, I'll just sum it up real short. It's a piece of crap (well,
actually, since it has gone on for so long, a pile I suppose). However, as
far as effective marketing goes, every Marketing 101 textbook should have a
chapter on the past 150 years of Steinway BS. It drives me nuts, but I'll
bet there is no other company in ANY industry that has the effective
marketing record that Steinway has had.

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 5:26 PM
Subject: Re: Yamaha Damper Felt


> Friends,
>
> I hope somebody can help me make sense of this, because it bends me a
little out
> of shape.
>
> Remember the Steinway ads? (For an example see the PTJournal 12-97, p. 7.)
"If
> it doesn't have 12,116 genuine Steinway parts, it isn't a Steinway."  So
if I
> find a screw from the local hardware store in an otherwise Steinway piano,
what
> am I to tell the client?  "Sorry.  It says Steinway, and it looks, sounds
and
> plays like a Steinway, but it's not a Steinway.  It has only 12,115
genuine
> Steinway parts."  I think I'm being ridiculous, and I get their point, but
I
> still think that ad was ill-advised.
>
> According to Terry, the other way around is the case with Yamaha.  I now
learn
> that Yamaha won't sell us parts unless they are going to be used in a
Yamaha
> piano.  Will someone please explain to me why?  Using Yamaha felt in
something
> else isn't going to turn that piano into a Yamaha; we all know that.  If
they
> make great piano parts (and there's probably universal agreement that they
do),
> and someone wants to use them to improve whatever piano, why not?
Certainly
> Yamaha makes a reasonable profit on their parts.  I can't see any way they
will
> lose by selling to whomever, for whichever piano.
>
> So someone explain this to me, please.  Thank you.
>
> Sincerely,
> Clyde Hollinger
>
> P.S.  I suppose it is possible that the salesman Terry talked to had his
own ax
> to grind and was not stating company policy.
>
> Farrell wrote:
>
> > List, I just got off the phone with Yamaha parts. I wanted to order some
> > Yamaha damper and hammer rest rail felt. He asked me what was the Yamaha
> > serial number of the piano I am working on. I told him that my 1901
> > Bechstein did not have a Yamaha serial number - but I could look again,
just
> > in case. He said he would not sell Yamaha felt for any project that did
not
> > have a Yamaha serial number.
> >
> > How do any of you get Yamaha felt. Other than the obvious. I prefer to
run
> > my life honestly. Any other options? Is there anyone at Yamaha that
sells
> > "good stuff" under the table?????
> >
> > Terry Farrell
> > Piano Tuning & Service
> > Tampa, Florida
> > mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
>
>
>