Hi Dave, It seems my slight sarcasm was missed :) I've heard lots of negative comments about Steinways on this list, of course I've also heard positive ones. I was just making the point that some pianists like them, and some of them very great. I was never a particularly big fan of Steinways up until I got mine. Still I'm not enamoured with them in general, and if I had to choose I'd say I have almost always preferred Mason & Hamlin's. Though my absolute favourite recording of a piano is Rubenstein's later (mid-late 60's) recording of Chopin's nocturnes. I'm not referring to Rubenstein's playing (which is nice, however), but the piano itself. I loved it before I knew it was a Steinway. I've still never heard a better recording of a piano. - John > John: > > I understand your confusion here. I don't think Steinway makes bad > pianos. Most here would agree with that statement. My problem with > them - and my tendency to denigrate them inappropriately - is the fact > that they are not what they could be, nor what they claim to be. It's > natural to claim to be the best. That's fine. The implication we get > from their marketing and their representatives (at least the ones I've > met) is that they are the "only" piano. I have heard many say that all > other instruments are just "commercial junk". That doesn't match my > reality. > > Secondly, Steinway has some wonderful technicians. People who know > what > a good piano is and what is should be. Still, marketing people > dominate > the company. If that were not so, you wouldn't hear the "largest > sounding board" hype when the technicians know that a sounding board > can > be too large. We hear of the "longest speaking length of the bass > strings" when the technicians know well that it would be better to have > a shorter speaking length string with a longer back scale. > > I have no doubt that Steinway could improve their good pianos. They > have the expertise to do that. My irritation at them is not because > they make bad pianos and the people who buy them are fools. My > irritation is that they could make much better pianos but they choose > not to. > > Theodore Steinway was a brilliant innovator who made more progress in > the development of the modern piano than anyone else and he did it > quite > rapidly. I believe he would turn over in his grave if he saw the > developmental stagnation that his successors have maintained. Steinway > does not make "bad" pianos, but they have been the leaders of a century > of developmental stagnation. > > End of rant! > > dave
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