<!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 6.00.6000.16674" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY style="WORD-WRAP: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space" bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>List,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I'd like to throw out a question. I've now built 4 bellies myself.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have seen several Steinways that have been very highly modified. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Consider a completely different soundboard design, scale design, a totally different approach to hammer design and installation, to say nothing of damper, action and key re-design. While these design changes all play a part in bringing out a new voice to an old piano, I always am able to very clearly hear a Steinway in there, the Steinway soul is still there, it's as though it can be tweaked, but not changed (who'd want to?). Sooo, what makes a Steinway sound like a Steinway? Did it Usta-B a Steinway, or is it still? I think that it still very much is, more of the original timbre and tone remains than is replaced.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Even the rim and plate are changed, what with treble dams and aliquot and duplex mods, plate mounting, etc, etc. It seems that the design of everything can be changed, and we still have the wonderful Steinway.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And why can no other piano be made to sound like one? (Dale, I'd like to hear that Henry Miller with the B belly.)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thank you, list, for taking my questions. I'll now take my answers off the air.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>None of this is meant to be pro or con design changes in vintage Steinways, please, let's not go there.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fenton</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=david@davidandersenpianos.com href="mailto:david@davidandersenpianos.com">David Andersen</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=ilvey@sbcglobal.net href="mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net">ilvey@sbcglobal.net</A> ; <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, July 04, 2008 9:52 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Real Customizing of a piano</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV>No we don't; the belly's great just as it is---and the action is---uh---it's fine! Just fine. It'll break in and lighten up a lot in the next couple weeks. <DIV>If you've got my check there, ma'am, I gotta go. Have fun. Buh-bye....</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>David "Tune 'n Run" Andersen</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"> <P align=left>Well first of all, we don't need to do anything with the belly...;-]<BR><BR>David Ilvedson, RPT<BR>Pacifica, CA 94044<BR></P> <DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 3px solid; PADDING-TOP: 5px"> <P align=left><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3><STRONG><EM>Colleagues<SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-width: -1"> Lets' agree to discontinue the idle banter. I've got a great Idea why don't we really discuss customizing a piano. What does it mean & all that it entails. It would be drastically more engaging than the spitting in the wind that's been going on under this wrongly titled thread which has zip to do with true authentic & artisanal Custom Piano Restoration, design or new designs. Who will go first? <FONT class=Apple-style-span size=5><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 18px">Dale Erwin</SPAN></FONT><BR></SPAN></EM></STRONG></FONT></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>