Laminated Soundboard Panels

[Farrell]

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I suspect much of these marketing considerations and how the piano =
buying public perceives them is directly related to the =
out-of-sight-out-of-mind phenomena. Folks can't see the wonderful ABS =
action components - the salesperson can simply report a great =
performing, technologically advanced action - cool, that's easy to =
swallow. But the soundboard panel can be seen by the shoppers - even =
though they can't see that it is laminated (but they can SEE the panel - =
it is REAL), they will hear it from "the other" brand's salesperson =
("are you aware that brand "K" sneaks those cheap laminated panels into =
their pianos - you know, like the ones used in 1970s Winter spinets - =
our pianos have a solid spruce soundboard like the concert grand pianos =
preferred by all the concert artists around the world & bla, bla, =
bla...").=20

I suspect that any mass-producer of pianos will have an uphill battle =
successfully marketing a laminated soundboard. However, the small =
quantity manufacturer (or remanufacturer) I suspect can develop a niche =
that those few open & performance-minded piano buyers will want to =
explore. I don't know what small quantity might be - one to ten pianos =
per year, definitely yes - 200,000 per year, definitely no.

I do know that the few remanufacturing jobs I have secured are based =
solely on personal trust - even though I have explained thoroughly the =
redesign work these pianos will be getting, I am well aware that the =
clients basically have zero clue as to what I am talking about. I am not =
using laminated panels at this point, but I have no doubt that with =
these clients use of a laminated panel would be readily accepted. Their =
remanufacturing decisions are based 100% on their trust in me and zero =
on any piano-design-related technical matter.

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Donald Mannino=20
  To: Pianotech=20
  Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 11:17 PM
  Subject: Re: Laminated Soundboard Panels



    True, but that should not be a sufficient reason alone not to use an =
alternative method if it proves to be superior. If the argument you put =
against laminated panels was to be adopted by Kawai, they would never =
have introduced their ABS actions. I believe that the use ABS for action =
parts is an excellent idea, which is superior to using wood, and that =
eventually this will be fully accepted by the market. Let's not condemn =
a technology out of hand without giving it proper scrutiny. If the =
market is biased against a good idea, I believe we have a responsibility =
as professionals in our industry to educate the sometimes idiotic-market =
we serve.

  Ron,

  My message was not in the least amount meant to be an argument against =
laminated boards.  I am very much in favor of well designed laminated =
boards, and I have seen and heard them done very well in a variety of =
piano sizes, including large grand pianos.  I was simply stating my =
observations that they have generally not done well in the marketplace =
because of the stigma.  You are correct, fighting the battle to gain =
market acceptance for laminated soundboards is very similar to the one =
fought with the ABS parts.

  Don Mannino 
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