[pianotech] Ethics of prop sticks.

[Al Guecia/AlliedPianoCraft]

Ron....You're a hoot! Love it!

Al -
High Point, NC

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From: "Ron Nossaman" <rnossaman at cox.net>
Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 11:51 PM
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Ethics of prop sticks.

> David Boyce wrote:
>> The theatre have an 1894 Steinway B (or the then equivalent). It was 
>> rebuilt by Steinway about 30 years ago and is beautiful.  It only has a 
>> one-piece lid prop, as they did at that time.  I have been asked about a 
>> short prop: the piano is mostly used for  accompaniment rather than 
>> recitals these days.
>>
>> I have written showing the director I deal with, outlining the options of 
>> the short brass prop from Pianotech which would be fitted alongside the 
>> existing prop stick, or replacing the existing original prop with a new 
>> two-piece prop stick, stained and polished to match.
>>
>> My initial thought was that the replacement would be the nicer option. 
>> But tonight I am having qualms. The existing stick is the original. If I 
>> replace it, will the piano cease to be "authentic" in some way?  (Albeit 
>> the action got lots of new stuff 30 years ago).
>
> I dearly hope you're just smashed out of your mind on Ovaltine and looking 
> for low entertainment with the most flagrantly insipid thing you can think 
> of, considering. The lid prop? Authentic? I'd say leave it alone, and put 
> a collection box outside the front entry for the pilgrims that are sure to 
> come worshiping at the alter of Steinway authenticity. A booth selling an 
> antiseptic salve for skinned knees should be a real money maker too, to 
> buy the Oxy Clean to scrub the blood off the walkway. When word gets out, 
> you're going to need security guards, a numbered Swiss bank account, and a 
> pet you can relate to.
>
> It's just a piano, dude, not a shrine or a god incarnate. It may not even 
> be that much of a piano, pending realistic evaluation. Treat it like you 
> would any other non-sacred object, and split the difference between what 
> the customer wants and what's possible, as you would with any corporeal 
> artifact.
>
> Ovaltine... Damn, that does sound good........
> Ron N
>