Fw: tone and taste: Another Veiw

[Erwinpiano]

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@hotmail.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2001 8:59 PM
Subject: Re: tone and taste: was Fw: pianotech-digest V2001 #309


> I think that we as technicians must be very careful to avoid presumption
> about what constitutes ideal tone.  There are at least as many tastes in
> tone as there are different kinds of piano.

Although I agree with you on the above point the other side of the coin is
that many have never tasted anything close to the sound of a well voiced or
hammered piano. This requires someone to lead them down the path.  We all
hear differently as you say and the sounds I was objecting to in an earlier
post to Mark Wisner was started from another thread from Del F. where he
and others were lamenting the ear piercing concept of sound coming from many
new pianos.  I did not think I was giving the impression that there is only
one ideal piano tone but your caution is well taken.

  David goes on to say
> for example, replacing a set of hammers on an instrument where there are
> different options that will produce different types of tone, I always try
to
> put on samples to allow them to hear differences and discuss what it is
that
> they are hearing.  I am careful about imposing my own personal taste,
though
> I definitely have one, on them.  Often when I explain and compare and
> contrast different types of sound that different hammers will produce, the
> customers will ultimately agree with me.  But sometimes they don't and the
> bottom line is that they will be playing the piano, not me.  I have had
many
> customers, excellent musicians, who prefer the sound of a Yamaha (albeit a
> well voiced one) to that of a Steinway.  Some people like a sharp attack
and
> others want to be able to get the tone to break up and distort at the fff
> end of the scale--they want that as part of their tonal palette.  Of
course,
> if I am rebuilding a piano on spec with the idea of selling it, I will
> always make it according to my own taste--that situation is
different. ----------David Love
      The other piece of my point  is that I as rebuild guy, like new
manufacturers, I have a concept of sound that I'm selling.  Our/My ability
to customize that sound for an individual is what gives us our edge and is
the life blood of my ability to compete with the sales of new pianos.  I
can't count the times clients of all hearing persuasions have commented that
they just didn't like the sounds of any of the new pianos they hear (and
many shopped alot).  After hearing a rebuild or remanufactured piano clients
comment, we didn't hear anything that sounded even close to that good at the
dealers showroom. If I'm not selling some thing different then I lose the
edge to compete.
  Where I /you can't compete with new pianos is in volumne.
  My last quick point is most new pianos have unlocked and untapped
potential for an increase in tone color. I know thats not a news flash but I
was not suggesting a hammer transplant for every piano just voicing first
hammer transplant if needed.
David your post is a well balanced and sensitive aproach and good advice for
all rebuilders/field techs. and a reality check for me!
  Respectfully submitted-------       Dale Erwin
> >From: "Erwinpiano" <Erwinpiano@email.msn.com>
> >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> >Subject: Fw: pianotech-digest V2001 #309
> >Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2001 19:56:57 -0800
> >
----- Original Message -----
> >From: Mark Wisner
> >To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2001 9:13 PM
> >Subject: RE: pianotech-digest V2001 #309
> >
> >
> >"Todays piano manufacturers have, well simply lost perspective... they
> >continually explore the possibilities for making instruments more and
more
> >explosive in sound"
> >
> >If the above is true, it's only because that's what the folks buying
pianos
> >want.  Manufacturers respond to market conditions and  it's up to us as
> >musicians and technicians to change the market if we think it needs
> >changing.
> >
> >I have to say that's only partly trust in my experience my farther was a
> >Yamaha dealer for more than twenty years. In the beginning the grands
were
> >coming in nicely voiced and perhaps a little European sounding(who knows
> >what that means any more) mellowish. Sometimes people objected but when
we
> >could convince them to try it and let it break in ,the sound would
develop
> >in to a nice round but present sound and hold that tone for a
considerable
> >period of time.  Others would not buy it and insist on instant sound or
> >they would buy the kawai which was a shade brighter at that time.
> >
> >  I have to confess that I have had  not one  client for many years who
is
> >crying for the instant on sound. They want something different and that
is
> >a full bodied sound with out the ear shattering power of the hard
> >hammer(Petrified felt) syndrome. In order to compete with the big corps.
my
> >pianos have to be well prepared but it's the sound that sells, and I'm
> >finding great appreciation for the big fat present sound that musicians
and
> >hearing dominate people are attracted to. Private rebuilders may in some
> >small way be creating a small but quiet revolution against the sound so
> >many of you are objecting to.
> >    I find that many new pianos of all  makes are limited by the style of
> >hammer.  All  that design and engineering short circuited by concrete
> >hammers. What's wrong with that picture??????
> >    If new manufactured pianos want to keep up with the private rebuilder
> >they should offer a special line of Well voiced pianos. There is market
for
> >it and it's quite large Mark.
> >
> >   respectfully submitted
> >  Dale Erwin
>
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