<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <html><head><style type="text/css"></style><title>Re: Steinway M</title></head><body> <div>At 9:30 PM -0700 7/9/03, Donald Mannino wrote:</div> <blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite>Regarding Ron Overs' remarks,<br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite>There are many reasons to not criticize the design when speaking with the customer.  All you have to do is turn it around and think - what if they said that about my piano?</blockquote> <div><br></div> <div><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF">That's not a good enough reason for me Don. I understand that some will criticise my piano and that's OK. For example, you criticised my action in Reno claiming that I'd reduced the friction too much. Did you hear me say anything in defense of my action? Certainly not. I can live with folks such as yourself being unenthusiastic about my piano. Wally Brooks said my piano was "just noise". That's life. If I've learned nothing more, it will be not to offer you or Wally one of my instruments. I'm afraid you are going to have to settle for a Kawai.</font></div> <div><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF"><br></font></div> <div><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF">While it is somewhat uncomfortable being on the receiving end of criticism, I am inclined to think that we need to both receive it and reflect upon it, in order to progress. I am always interested in hearing any criticisms folks might have regarding my pianos. But I don't automatically commit to change based on a couple of isolated reports. I think, as a manufacturer, if a great majority are enthusiastic about your instrument, its about as much as you can hope for. Besides, expert marketing coupled with reasonably competent manufacturing & design will always out-sell reasonably competent marketing coupled with expert manufacturing & design. The choice depends on what one wants to achieve in this life.</font></div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite>I am sorry to say that there is no such thing as a piano design which cannot be criticized, yours included Mr. Overs.</blockquote> <div><br></div> <div><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF">I am the first to agree, but at least I remain committed to a programme of ongoing reflection and improvement.</font></div> <div><br></div> <div>  The very divergent opinions expressed on this list show this.  The aspects of individualism we<font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF"> [some]</font> admire in designs from people like Overs, or Stuart, or Del Fandrich are points of criticism for others.  And it isn't only the know-nothing sales people selling against the innovative design - it is often well intentioned but perhaps misguided piano technicians who speak out against a design or method of construction, because it doesn't suit their individual tastes.<font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF"> [or because they might have voiced an opinion before they gave the Shock-of-the-New a fair appraisal]</font></div> <div><br></div> <div><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF">Agreed, but if folks aren't allowed to form an opinion without being criticised for having it, our industry stands little change of moving forward.</font></div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite>It is best to let the buyer decide if the individual traits of a particular piano are good or bad.</blockquote> <div><br></div> <div><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF">How can this be considered an appropriate MO for a professional piano technician conducting a consultancy? So we just shut our eyes and ears and let the buyer tumble headlong into buying anything as long as it is in good order? I don't think so. Furthermore Don, as a representative of Kawai, I can't imagine that you would let a client 'make the mistake' of purchasing an inferior competitor's instrument without uttering a sentence or three about design. I just find that difficult to believe. Since the word 'consult' means to "seek information or advice from a person or book" (Oxford Concise dictionary), I can't understand how a credible consultant should comment on condition only and not on conceptual, design or performance matters.</font></div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite>  In the case of a technician evaluating a piano for an owner, the desire on the part of the owner is usually to know if this particular instrument is OK or not.</blockquote> <div><br></div> <div><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF">I suspect that buyers vary in this regard. Some like to know only about the condition of an instrument, while others are passionately interested in design and performance aspects. Might we agree that we should first listen to the client before we decide how we are going to approach each individual?</font></div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite>  Pontificating on design disadvantages usually just upsets the owner, and in the end often hurts the technician's reputation.  I am not simply preaching here - my position on this was formed through some very unpleasant personal experiences long before I worked for any piano companies.</blockquote> <div><br></div> <div><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF">Sometimes perhaps, but if the 'pontification' is truthful and not just spin as your word choice suggests, a few do prefer the truth - whatever that is.</font></div> <div><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF"><br></font></div> <div><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000FF">Ron O.</font></div> <div><br></div> <x-sigsep><pre>-- </pre></x-sigsep> <div><font size="-2" color="#000000"><br> </font><font face="Times New Roman" size="+1" color="#0000FF"><b>OVERS PIANOS - SYDNEY</b></font></div> <div><font color="#000000"><i>    </i></font><font color="#0000FF"><i> Grand Piano Manufacturers</i></font><font color="#000000"><br>      _______________________</font></div> <div><font size="-2" color="#000000"><br> </font><font color="#000000">Web http://overspianos.com.au<br> mailto:ron@overspianos.com.au<br>      _______________________</font></div> </body> </html>