At 06:24 AM 1/20/2001 -0600, Bill S wrote: >John, Back in the late 60's and early 70's, there was a company, I >think in Chicago, that would take existing grands and remove the >case/furniture. They would install pick-ups, build a custom covering and >legs for what was left. It could then be transported easier by bands who >wanted a real piano sound. You must realize this was BD. (before >digital) I think the company was named Hilfinger or something like that. Helpenstill. They are apparently back in business again making their piano pickup system, which sells for about $550. You still see them in live performance venues once in a while. I tuned one of those portable stage pianos for Bill McCaulder (Powder Blues/Willie and the Walkers) years back. As I recall it wasn't very stable compared to a CP-70/80, but it was a "real piano". Helpenstill also made a small vertical that folded into its own road case, but the only examples I saw of those were disasters compared to the Yamaha "stage" vertical. John John Musselwhite, RPT - Calgary, Alberta Canada http://www.musselwhite.com http://canadianpianopage.com/calgary email: john@musselwhite.com http://www.mp3.com/fatbottom
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