Steinways / David Andersen

[David Love]

That is entirely possible.  I do encounter SB problems but I would
characterize most of them as unevenness in outcomes rather than outright
failure--though there are those too.  The line is not clearly drawn as to
when it is crossed.  I do hear some pianos that are quite nice, some just
ok, and some not very nice at all.  It probably breaks down about like that
1/3, 1/3, 1/3.  It may very well be that in a more extreme environment my
experience would be different.  We are lucky out here in that respect.  I
was more commenting on the 20:1 ratio that DA reported.  I find that number
to be much better than I experience.  I do agree that most can be improved
somewhat with careful preparation.

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Porritt, David
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 7:21 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: RE: Steinways / David Andersen

David:

Could it be that you don't encounter the sounding board problems that
have been mentioned because the weather in your area is much more
benign?  In other parts of the country there are climate issues that
stress the board more than in your corner of Camelot.  This, of course,
affects all pianos but S&S seems to have worse problems than other
manufacturers on this.

dave

David M. Porritt
dporritt at smu.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf Of David Love
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 8:29 AM
To: 'Pianotech List'
Subject: RE: Steinways / David Andersen

I would say there are two possibilities for that happening, slim and
none.
I don't see how Steinway would feel that it's in there interest to
establish
a group of techs to police them and their dealers.  Shall we establish
the
Steinway study group and provide a public series of recommendations:-)?
I
wouldn't do it if I were them.  They have nothing to gain from it and
plenty
to lose.  The issue is an internal one and one between them and their
dealers.  The best you can hope for is that they simply take the type of
criticisms that have been expressed on advisement and address it.  

BTW, I don't agree with David Andersen on the soundboard/front end
ratio, at
least not exactly.  While outright failures are not that common,
unevenness
in outcomes is, especially through the treble sections.  I think that
inconsistency is inherent in the process and we too easily learn to
accept
less than is possible.  

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf
Of RicB
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 2:48 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Steinways / David Andersen


... it may very well be in their interests to establish contact with 
a pool of non-aligned (and non-hostile) techs to work as a kind of 
control mechanism.  Both to improve the general quality of finished 
instruments, improve what apparently is vulnerability in customer 
relations, and to identify dealerships that do not live up to their part

of the <<bargain>> implied in the present manufacturer / dealer 
relationship.

Cheers
RicB