What would Steinway do

[David Love]

Perhaps you should volunteer to become editor for the list postings.  I
don't really get any of this: rebuilders with "obvious vulnerability...".
What's that?  People express their opinions directly and matter of factly
out of frustration, disbelief, mostly.  I don't think that those with other
ideas about how to approach rebuilding and design are serious threats to any
major manufacturers market share.  The criticisms of any manufacturer will
make an impact or not based on sheer volume over time, not because something
was more tastefully and diplomatically expressed.  Tiptoeing around the
issues and taking care not to ruffle any feathers may be more genteel but
I'm not sure it's any more effective and it certainly makes for less
interesting reading.  

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: Monday, March 05, 2007 7:15 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: What would Steinway do

Hi Andrew

I suppose a successful court challenge of the type you mention would 
perhaps force some movement.  Especially if you can catch a manufacturer 
in slipping out an instrument which does not meet its own public 
specifications for what is acceptable.

Another approach, again assuming things are as bad as the picture drawn 
by some in the states, would be for a few of you all to get together and 
put together an article series in the Journal documenting these claims. 

My point here is tho that for rebuilders with an obvious vulnerability 
in being potentially perceived as agenda oriented, it seems to me that 
the type of posting I express concern about is counterproductive at very 
best.  Is say this as a person sincerely interested in seeing the fine 
workmanship I saw in Rochester by our panel of rebuilders/builders gain 
accept in the buying community.

Ron Overs just contributed a post that I think exemplifies extremely 
well a far better approach. His posting was dispassionate, factual, and 
where opinion was stated there was no doubt about it.  Nor was there any 
doubt that his opinions were carefully weighed by his experience and  
knowledge.  This kind of thing sinks in deep, creates a lasting 
impression and gives pause for thought that perhaps is far more 
productive in terms of gaining accept for ones views.

Great post Ron btw. 

Cheers
RicB


    Ric,
    How about court-filings to force S&S NY to honor its warranty against
    defect in workmanship?  We are approaching that here in Texas.  There
    is an S&S D here where the plate/string height is well above
    Steinway's 1/4" wide acceptable range.  The dealer tech. broke a
    number of drop screw heads off trying to get the hammers a little
    closer to the strings on drop.  They are claiming that this is not a
    warranty issue in any way and apparently trying to drag things out
    until the short warranty runs out.

    They build a piano with a lot of potential, it is painful though, to
    encounter one where it is still-born from the factory and the factory
    categorically refuses to accept any responsibility to find and
    accomplish a solution beyond sending free action shims.  While action
    shimming may debate-ably be an acceptable solution installing them
    and regulating is part of the solution that they will have to accept
    too.

    Andrew Anderson