By the way, that link is from a bit more than a month ago: <a href="http://www.economist.com/node/21542380">http://www.economist.com/node/21542380</a> As a community orchestra concertmaster I play a gorgeous violin I made a few years back. I would sell it for 1% of the price of a Strad if someone made an offer, though. I was inspired in my design by piano soundboard knowledge shared by Darrell Fandrich at a chapter meeting. --John Ashcraft <div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, May 1, 2012 at 1:52 PM, David Love <<a href="mailto:davidlovepianos@comcast.net" target="_blank">davidlovepianos@comcast.net</a>> wrote: <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Check out the article in the Economist about a month or two ago comparing the sound of various vintage violins against new ones. A blind listening experiment. I won't ruin it by telling you which ones came out ahead. David Love <a href="http://www.davidlovepianos.com" target="_blank">www.davidlovepianos.com</a> (sent from bb) <div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"> -----Original Message----- From: Paul Williams <<a href="mailto:pwilliams4@unl.edu">pwilliams4@unl.edu</a>> Sender: <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 20:29:31 To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a><<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>> Reply-To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts As beautiful as a Strad sounds, the strings made in the day are not available anymore..or are they? Cat gut just can't be around. Certainly, a bridge must have been replace in 300 years, but Mr Strad didn't do it, nor could have. A tuning nut, etc, whatever: When is the line drawn? I once was an actual employee for a piano store and was told to shut my mouth when we held those huge warehouse sales and all I was to do was tune and look busy! Believe me, that only lasted a few months! I couldn't stand hearing the salesman push "oh, this piano is all original and on and on (looking at a 1930's Stark or something they were trying to push off for $3,500!!!) Ugh! "But look here at this beautiful new (%* grand you can get for the same price! No problems with it, one free tuning, and you're good to go for years! Paul On 5/1/12 2:57 PM, "Don Hubbs" <<a href="mailto:donhubbs@mwt.net">donhubbs@mwt.net</a>> wrote: >You might try comparing yourselves with the craftsmen who set up other >fine >stringed instruments. There are better and lesser makes of violins, etc., >but no professional or even good amateur would play one right out of the >box. They are often modified with better strings, bridge adjustments, >fingerboard adjustments, etc., without which they would often be mediocre >at >best. > >If you are regularly called on to finesse concert instruments, let your >customer know that, too. > >Salesmen are salesmen. They can sell a way too bright piano as "voiced for >jazz", while keeping a straight face. You have to sell your craft as the >finesse that makes all the difference. > >Don Hubbs > >-----Original Message----- >From: Encore Pianos [mailto:<a href="mailto:encorepianos@metrocast.net">encorepianos@metrocast.net</a>] >Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 11:56 AM >To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> >Subject: Re: [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts > >Well put, Jim. And Steinway plays on that insecurity to the hilt. > >Will > >-----Original Message----- >From: <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] On >Behalf >Of <a href="mailto:jim@grandpianosolutions.com">jim@grandpianosolutions.com</a> >Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 10:41 AM >To: pianotech >Subject: [pianotech] Gen-u-whine Steinway parts > >Dale I feel your pain. > >However, as a point of constructive discussion, regarding human brains in >general regarding this problem, I would like to look at this problem from >a >different perspective. As a disclaimer, I'm sure you know that I share >your >passion for piano rebuilding as the committed pursuit of beautiful piano >sound. (If it weren't for the possibility of creating beautiful sound, I'd >probably just be selling life insurance or some other yuck-and-a-half.) > >But...let me set up a hypothetical scenario, with me as a piano buyer >(assuming by some amazing stroke of unlikely-ness, I had some serious >bucks >to spend on a real nice piano.) > >In this scenario, if had come by enough money to manage a one-time, big >bucks purchase of a piano, (as in get it right, because I wouldn't be able >to try again), I could easily see myself majorly conflicted between a >really >fine rebuild and a big name-brand piano purchase. Being brutally honest >with myself, in my mind, given the funds to purchase a big name brand, I >believe I would be conflicted in choosing a rebuild over a big name-brand >piano despite that fact that the conflict goes against my very existence >as >a life long artisan-craftsperson/musician, and despite the fact that I >know >as a technician how lousy these new brand -name pianos sound on the "lot". > >Having only one shot at the "right" piano, especially when the acquisition >of that "right" piano is so central to my experience of music, I know that >the decision would have a great likelihood of creating some base line of >disappointment. And, though its irrational, and goes against everything >that I know about lousy pianos sounding on the big-name piano "lot", the >"authority" which brand names acquire would tempt me to put my trust in >the >brand as something larger and more authoritative than a single guy in his >shop...therefore more likely of avoiding disappointment. > >My reasoning above is convoluted, irrational, and just plain bulls..t. >However, I also know this line of thought needs to be countered in the >working of my own mind. I pin the conflict on some sort of evolutionary >detritus, but there it is, despite the fact that it gnaws at the very >foundations of who I am as an artisan...but...still...it is there if I am >honest with myself. > >I solved this problem by making my own piano. it removes the money from >the >equation, and gives me control over the outcome, as well as tools ton >overcome shortcomings. > >But I cheated. > >Customers don't have this control, and are utterly dependent on others for >the outcome of their quest. > >Just some thoughts, as I mull over how one can actually sell a fine >rebuild, >regardless of how excellent the rebuild is, when we all are evolutionarily >still somewhere at the level of a bloody pickerel. > >Jim Ialeggio > >-- >Jim Ialeggio ><a href="mailto:jim@grandpianosolutions.com">jim@grandpianosolutions.com</a> ><a href="tel:%28978%29%20425-9026" value="+19784259026">(978) 425-9026</a> >Shirley, MA > > > > > > > </div></div></blockquote></div>