[pianotech] Player system on Steinway B

[Andrew Anderson]

Marty,
Player systems make pianos easier to sell at the store.

The player systems I have worked with do not impinge on key travel and  
work best when the piano is at its best regulation.  The option to  
silence the piano, QuietTime by PianoDisc is one brand, does affect  
the regulation.  Drop has to be set at the thickness of the felt that  
is inserted between the hammers and the keys.  All other regulation  
parameters do not have to be impinged upon.

Room usually has to be made for solenoid covers in the legs and a slot  
is cut into the back of the keybed.  Sometimes the shift pedal lever  
has to be moved forward to clear the slot.  A well built piano does  
not suffer sonically from those modifications.  Most of the high-end  
piano makers either have their own player system or offer the option  
of having the piano readied for a system from the factory.  I order my  
pianos ready.  It helps to sell pianos and overcomes
objections from parents who aren't sure if their children will stick  
to lessons.  (Off-course they won't with a cheap electronic keyboard  
either.)

Bosendorfer has its own system.  Yamaha its own system.  A variety of  
options are available for aftermarket players.  Most of my high-end  
pianos are sold with players on them.

If your customer is some sort or piano religious mystic, maybe it  
would be a turn-off.  For the average American customer it is a huge  
turn-On!

Andrew Anderson, Artisan Piano

On Jun 15, 2010, at 8:27 PM, martin cipolla wrote:

> I have a client looking at a Pre-Owned Steinway B model.  He is  
> concerned that the value of the piano may be negatively affected by  
> the fact that a Player system has been added to the piano.  My  
> experience has been that adding after market player systems affects  
> to some degree the action of the piano.  (ie less key travel)  I  
> cant picture having holes drilled into the piano does it any good  
> either.  On one instance, I noticed part of the Leg of a grand was  
> removed to make room for the solenoids.  I don't want to mislead my  
> client so I am asking for some input from all the experience that is  
> on this list.  How do you feel about aftermarket player systems on a  
> classic piano like the Steinway B?
>
> I appreciate your input.
> Marty
>
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