<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> <body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> Kevin, <br>    I believe that the antique sostenuto system is on the way out, but how about the tubular action rails huh? <p>Greg <p>"Kevin E. Ramsey" wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE><style></style> <font face="Arial"><font size=-1>Dave; I would be very surprised if Steinway ever even attempted any improvements. Look at what happened the last time they tried; Teflon bushings that we're still replacing. So, instead, they're going to go for what works in the market, name brand recognition. As far as I can tell, that's the main thing they have going for them, so they rely on that. I've seen quite a few "dogs" with the Steinway name on the fallboard, and to be honest, some truly wonderful instruments too. I guess it depends on what day of the week it was built.</font></font><font face="Arial"><font size=-1>    If they were interested in making a piano that was easier to work on, how about getting rid of that antique sostenuto system that they use? I don't think they could get burned by going to a more modern design, say, one that's only been in use for fifty or so years, do you?</font></font>  Kevin E. Ramsey <br><a href="mailto:ramsey@extremezone.com">ramsey@extremezone.com</a> <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 href="mailto:dm.porritt@verizon.net" title="dm.porritt@verizon.net">David M. Porritt</a></div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title="pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a></div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 02, 2002 5:27 PM</div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> improvements</div>  While looking at the cover of the current Piano Technicians Journal, I got to thinking about all the ads and articles about new and improved pianos.  Yamaha has come out with their "S" series, Kawai the "RX" and now the Shigru.  The artical about the NAMM show detailed many improvements in several other pianos. Why is it that the only news from Steinway has been about new looks?  New furniture around the same old scales.  The picture on this month's cover is impressive, but it's the same old "D" inside.  Have they really already attained perfection?  Inquiring minds want to know. dave <pre>_____________________________ David M. Porritt dporritt@mail.smu.edu Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275 _____________________________</pre> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p>-- <br>Greg Newell <br><A HREF="mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net">mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net</A> <br>  </body> </html>