Kincade "grand" <was Betsy Ross>

[Farrell]

Robert wrote:
> With all this talk about how awful Betsy Ross pianos are I'm
> surprised that no one has yet mentioned my #1 hated PSO/POS
> piano.  I am of course referring to those spinets and
> consoles that were produced by the Kincade Furniture company
> marketed under the name "Grand".

I would never dare overlook such a gem. Look below at a previous post of
mine!

Terry Farrell wrote:
>I beg your pardon! The Lester "Betsy Ross" spinet was an average quality
>spinet. It far surpasses the quality level of others like the "Grand"
spinet
>and Aeolean products. Of course, far surpassing these is not saying much. I
>made a great regulating bench out of a free Betsy Ross. Great bench, even
>greater sound when you drop a tool on it! (The back is the top of the table
>& I left all strings on!) The top made a nice shelf, and the knee board,
>several shelves. I have another nice shelf with a front lip made from the
>fall board. The possibilities are endless!

>I say, if you have a shop - don't work on it - make it work for you!

Those were little gems, weren't they? Fortunately I don't run into very many
of them. When making a tuning appt. with a new client, I always ask what
type of piano they have - I'm looking for vertical or grand. They say
"Grand" and silly me, I think they have a grand. Ask how old - "oh, not very
old". Cool. What a nasty sinking feeling one gets when you walk into the
home a see that warped, wretched little PSI (piano shaped impostor) lurking
against the wall, just waiting to mess with you. AAAARRRRRGGGGG!

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Goodale" <rrg@nevada.edu>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 10:50 AM
Subject: Kincade "grand" <was Betsy Ross>


> With all this talk about how awful Betsy Ross pianos are I'm
> surprised that no one has yet mentioned my #1 hated PSO/POS
> piano.  I am of course referring to those spinets and
> consoles that were produced by the Kincade Furniture company
> marketed under the name "Grand".  With plywood sound boards,
> (literally), particle board cabinets, keys that look like
> they were cut out with a pocket knife, cheep bushing cloth
> inserted into oversized holes, and a stringing scale that
> changes sizes perhaps three times in the entire piano, the
> Kincade "grand" spinet has every PSO I have ever encountered
> beat by a mile!  My favorite feature are the tuning pins.
> Each one had it's own angle, often various degrees downward
> toward the action!  These "pianas" were sold through
> furniture stores, not music stores.  They were intended as
> cheep impulse purchase items for people decorating their
> home and thought that a piano might enhance the look of
> things.  They were functional, (sometimes), but that's about
> it.  I've heard early 1980's vintage casio toy compact
> keyboards that sounded better!
>
> Rob Goodale, RPT
> Las Vegas, NV
>