Steinways / David Andersen

[Ron Overs]

Hi all,

At 6:55 PM +0100 8/12/06, RicB wrote:
>  . . . I find it very odd that when ever this 
>kind of comment comes up it has always to do 
>with Steinways... when in reality there are 
>several other manufacturers who go at least as 
>far down the road of compression soundboards 
>then Steinway does.  Why do we never hear about 
>these failures in Yamahas, Schimmels, 
>Bechsteins, Steingræbers ... etc etc.

I think there is a reason why the S&S company 
gets singled out. And BTW Ric, with respect to 
soundboards, I have heard and measured the same 
deterioration of the soundboards of other makers. 
But I suspect that a factor behind S&S being 
singled out for criticism comes about from their 
we-are-unquestionably-the-best attitude of 
themselves, which they ceaselessly pedal in their 
propaganda.

When a manufacturer continues to insist that they 
are 'the best', while in reality they are just as 
much a part of the flock as many other 
manufacturers, they are setting themselves up in 
a position where many will try to knock them off 
their perch of alleged arrogance.

The unquestionable marketing success of S&S has 
placed them in an almost unassailable position 
which makes it nearly impossible for any other 
manufacture to challenge them, to share the 
limelight which they enjoy. Their market 
dominating position releases them from having to 
compete directly on quality. Such is the level of 
their brand recognition, they could almost 
release a toy xylophone naming it as a piano 
designed by Steinway, and many would rush to buy 
it.

Nevertheless, I suspect the next ten years will 
be a very interesting time in the micro-world of 
pianos.

Ron O.
-- 
OVERS PIANOS - SYDNEY
    Grand Piano Manufacturers
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Web http://overspianos.com.au
mailto:ron at overspianos.com.au
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