Sohmer

[Delwin D Fandrich]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lynn Rosenberg" <Lynn@eznet.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: October 20, 2000 9:06 AM
Subject: Re: Sohmer


> Hi Del. Why don't these manufacturers take all this into consideration
when
> they design pianos??? I've been told about pianos you make, and have heard
> nothing but good comments about them.  Why doesn't Steinway correct
they're
> problems concerning the 1098??? The us, and foreign piano makers aut to
> start to take in consideration they're scale designs in making pianos.
Lynn
> Rosenberg
>
----------------------------------

Several reasons, actually.

The most obvious is that many U.S. companies lost the skills and knowledge
required to create new piano scales (and by 'scale' I mean the whole of the
beast, not just the speaking lengths of the strings).  For the most part
research and development went out during the 1930s.  There are, of course,
some well-known exceptions, but on the whole there is a fear of tampering
with the unknown.  And the acoustic technology of the piano is an unknown to
most of those building it.

In other cases, such as with the Steinway 1098 you mention, there is a
difference of opinion as to whether or not there is a problem with the
design.  Those of us who have had to work on them over the years have one
opinion, obviously the company has another.  I look at this particular
design and see a great deal of unrealized potential.  This has to be one of
the most solidly built vertical pianos on the market today.  In my
opinion -- and keep in mind, this is only my opinion -- the scale, plate and
string terminations could easily be altered to eliminate those aspects of
the design that are most offensive to the tuner/technician while
substantially improving the performance.  Steinway, on the other hand, is
apparently quite happy with the design as it is.  Keep in mind that some
companies have a strong vested interest in preserving traditions.  At some
point it may well become more important than enhancing performance.  At
least they have chosen to produce the design, essentially unchanged, for
some decades now.  (Other industries do this as well.  Consider how long it
has taken Ford to rid itself of the 'Twin I-Beam' suspension, an idea only
marginally better than the solid axle it replaced.)  I suppose as long as
enough people buy it to make it profitable it will continue on as is.

And herein lies what I see as the core problem.  The piano industry as a
whole is largely content to continue producing instruments in the same basic
pattern as long as people are willing to keep on buying them.  There is
intense competition in the manufacturing arena -- i.e., in how to build them
faster and cheaper and, occasionally, even better -- but little in evolving
the instrument to higher levels of performance.  In my view as long as this
remains the case piano sales will continue to slowly decline.

But then, I've said all this already.  Check the Journal several years back
for my article, "If It Ain't Broke, Break It!"

Regards,

Del