<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT size=2>Back to pianos, hopefully.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Had this discussion the other day with another tech = when we were talking about a Steinway M and a couple of proposed changes which = included: a new bass bridge, getting rid of the cantilever and lengthening the = backscale, rescaling the piano and changing many of the gauges, especially in the = upper end of the piano, detuning the duplexes and adding a new counterbearing bar = in the capo section to change the string angle and duplex length...  = </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Several questions arise considering recent = discussions about patent infringements, though this takes a slightly different = angle.  At what point do changes breach any tacit understandings/agreements about = what can be done to a piano and still call it that maker's piano?  Does the technician have any legal or other obligation to adhere to the designers = intention, or commit any breach by making such changes?  What is = the responsibility to inform customers of such changes (say in a spec = situation with a piano for sale)?  Or any other considerations that I have not = mentioned, or though of.  These types of changes, I realize, are made all the time.  What obligation do we have as technicians in such = situations?  Any other thoughts on the subject would be appreciated.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>