<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">  <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=FR link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> And how would you name this new Kawai CA91 which combines an electronic keyboard and a real soundboard ?<o:p></o:p> If I understood the electronic sound is transmitted with transducers and metal rods to a spruce soundboard.<o:p></o:p> I don’t like electronic keyboards but I’ve read that this one produces good sounds.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Pierre Gevaert<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> De : pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] De la part de tompiano@bellsouth.net Envoyé : dimanche 20 janvier 2008 13:40 À : <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName> Objet : Re: Digital versus Acoustic Pianos<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> They aren't pianos. They are electronic keyboards. Part of the appeal of a piano ( over a keyboard) include points you've correctly stated. However, add the element of an omni-directional soundwave ( which a piano produces) vs the 2 dimensional soundwave ( of any electronic device with a speaker)  and you have a stark difference in tonal ambiance. In the 70's there was much mumbling and groaning of the fact that the electronic keyboard's popularity would take over the piano industry by the year 2000. The prediction was for a demise of the piano industry soon after 2000. <o:p></o:p> Well, well, well...that hasn't been the case. If anything, the introduction of the keyboard has helped put into perspective how nice a piano is. <o:p></o:p> Add also the fact that the keyboard's lifespan is, what 5-8 yrs. And also to the fact that the value of the keyboard drops  as fast as a computer.<o:p></o:p> The keyboards have their place. Our family owns one and we enjoy it for it's convience, it's mobility, and you can use headphones those moments. But that's as far as the positives go,I find keyboards very boring and unteresting to play. <o:p></o:p>   <o:p></o:p> Tom Servinsky<o:p></o:p> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #1010FF 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> -------------- Original message from "Lorenzo Lacovara" <Lacovara@msn.com>: -------------- ï»¿ <o:p></o:p> <div> I originated this thread and feel that I did not articulate more clearly the problem I have with digital "pianos".<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> 1. Touch sensitivity. I play the piano and have to date not found a single digital instrument that has the touch sensitivity of even the worst acoustical. This seems to do mostly with the length of the key and associated leverage. There are big differences between playing arpeggios on longer keys where the weight is more uniform because of the action geometry. and keys that are short and artificially loaded by springs.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> 2. The sound board in an acoustical piano sums  (read capital Sigma) the vibrations that are transmitted to it via the bridge from all currently moving strings thus, providing the unique characteristics of individual instruments.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> For those more familiar with the artists of the "Golden age of piano"  is it possible to imagine Horowitz playing his version of the Liszt second Hungarian Rhapsody on a Beckstein?? Or more recently, Murray Perahia  playing Mozart on a Bosendorfer Imperial?. Digital Instruments flatten them all out into the same glat-kultur sound.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Yes , digital instruments certainly do have a place, but certainly not as solo instruments.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> I just have a real hard time calling them pianos.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Lorenzo Lacovara<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> The Piano Exchange BUY  SELL  TUNING  REPAIRS Hoffman Town Square 2225 Wyoming NE Albuquerque, NM 87110<o:p></o:p> </div> </blockquote> </div>  </body> </html>