Problems with new Steinways

[RicB]

Hi Dale


Ah... I see.  I wish I could be of more direct help on this subject. And 
the subject is evidently is about many American technicians relationship 
to the N.Y. Steinway.  I have a sense that its really quite complicated, 
quite a bit more so then some of the more bitter posts thrown around 
here. I doubt this is a popular position to take on pianotech, but just so.

In any case a few things seem evident to me.  If Steinway was anywhere 
near as bad on whole as the picture drawn in some of the recent posts 
then they would indeed have gone out of business years ago.  Someone 
mentioned something about the realities of the business world.... and I 
mentioned something along those lines.  Personally, I see way more 
shoddy workmanship coming from just about every hold then I see coming 
out of Hamburg.  That said.. when a problem exists with a Hamburg 
instrument there are politics that need to be played in order to resolve 
the issue.  I dont like that ....  but thats the game.  It strikes me 
that the rules of that game are imposed on Steinway as they are just 
about every other business... upon the piano industry as much as any 
other industry.  Denial of that is kind of like believing you can get to 
be prime minister or president and not have very very dirty hands. 

Ok.. superimpose upon that the competitions desire to break into a 
larger market share,  the lone wolf (ofte times highly skilled and 
creative) frustrations with not being able to make his/her mark...  the 
natural urge to express the popular rage (what was that... Network ??))  
and all the rest of the stuff you can mix into the cauldron and it gets 
quickly very very difficult to actually see what kind of product the 
primary target in this instance actually stands for. 

Granted... I dont have first hand experience on a day to day basis with 
the NY variant.  And indeed I do hear a fair amount of evidence rolling 
in from techs stateside. I do not doubt that there are flaws found on NY 
Steinways, nor do I doubt the seriousness of these as reported.  On the 
other hand, I see the same or worse from other hold. And too I see that 
ofte times problems are not at all in the realm of manufacturer defect. 

I dunno... you can go round and round and never get at the root.  One 
thing is clear.  There are several techs on these lists who observe 
Steinway & Sons with detest on several counts.  And thats not a good 
thing me thinks.  If there is a significant real problem with NY S&S... 
one that is indeed markant in relation to the industry at large and in 
particular Steinways position in that.... then I wonder what is the best 
way of dealing with it.  Strikes me that the present course many are on 
is aimed at destruction.  Is that what folks really want ?  The last of 
the American greats to ... disappear ? 

Well... this isnt exactly the kind of <<experience>> tale you were 
after.... but it was on my mind.

Cheers
RicB


    Ric
      I left out experiences ,which is what I was  asking all to share.  It
    sounded like I was dismissing what was shared  & I sincerely
    appreciated the
    situations recounted
      Thanks
      Dale

    What  didnt you like about it ?

    RicB


    I re -read this  & I didn't like the  sound of it later.  Thanks
    all,  for
    your experiences &  miseries.  I  got what I asked for.