<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=Windows-1252"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: = #ffffff" bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><SPAN class=031393218-20052004>Yes, Barbara, but how else are you = going to get the experience you need to go out and tune those ideal 8:4 and = 10:5 low bass octaves in the Lester? Of course, if the Steinway grand isn't = available to practice on--in preparation to tuning that Betsy (Winter, Stark, = Crappiola, or Fill-in-your-own-blank-here),  one can always get a washtub and = broom handle bass to practice on ...</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031393218-20052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031393218-20052004>And to all those who rise to the = defense of junk pianos, I say, tune 'em, replace their elbows and other various = body parts, make some money, do your best for the client, don't insult people, BUT = BUT BUT don't get all bothered that we laugh at or blow off steam about = these clunkers. For Heaven's sake, the pianos do NOT have feelings, (sorry if = that is disappointing news to anyone), they are just mass-produced, cheap, = low-end, NOT serious, pieces of furniture that make a vaguely piano-like sound, = sometimes, sort of.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031393218-20052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031393218-20052004>My theory: Almost all pianos, over = the years, have been purchased by people who were, understandably, = completely ignorant about piano tone and playability, etc. Almost all choices were = based EXCLUSIVELY on price, brand recognition (or impressive sounding names), and the pretty cabinets. Add totally disreputable = dealers--not all, but way to many--to that formula. Then add a dash of snobbiness and = whoppingly, sticker-shockingly prices from premium brand manufacturers. Oh, and = throw in the simple reality that piano teachers and technicians generally--for = perfectly sound reasons--tap dance all around any request for honest evaluations = of instruments. And finally, dismally, we can reflect on the significant = percentage of piano teachers who, counter to all logic and reason, teach = on severely out-of-tune and questionable pianos.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031393218-20052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031393218-20052004>Well, now ... Game of darts, = anyone? I'll paste a target on my pompous protruding posterior and await your slings = and arrows.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031393218-20052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031393218-20052004>All in fun, but seriously ... </SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031393218-20052004></SPAN><SPAN class=031393218-20052004></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV align=left>Alan R. Barnard</DIV> <DIV align=left><SPAN class=031393218-20052004>Dismantling and = Repinning an Acrosonic Action in </SPAN>Salem, MO</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr = align=left><FONT face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Barbara = Richmond [mailto:piano57@flash.net] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 20, 2004 = 12:41 PM<BR><B>To:</B> Pianotech<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Betsy Ross Spinet<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV>Well, it *could* be that budding musicians would have been turned = off, but if there is really that drive or passion to play, even a = spinet in reasonable repair would do--for a while, anyway.  No, it's = not ideal, but talent combined with the passion to play is hard to stop.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Of course, there's always the claim, "Our piano sounds different = than the piano teacher's piano!"  I laugh at that now, not only because = I'm a tech and know there can be lots of reasons for the difference in sound, but = also because we're the ones with the Steinway grand and the teacher = has the Yamaha console........(sort of reminds me of coming off of maternity = leave and practicing tuning my Steinway to get ready to go out and tune a = Kimball spinet.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Barbara Richmond, RPT</DIV> <DIV> </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=RptBob1@aol.com = href="mailto:RptBob1@aol.com">RptBob1@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 20, 2004 = 11:42 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Betsy Ross = Spinet</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 5/20/2004 8:07:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, = <A = href="mailto:hoffsoco@martin.luther.edu">hoffsoco@martin.luther.edu</A>= writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px = solid"><FONT face=Arial>this list over the years. Well <BR>deserved, = too.  I find it hard to say that they have no redeeming value if <BR>they are a = springboard to a musical career, or even if they only offer the <BR>opportunity to have live music in the = home</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV>We also have NO idea on how many budding, future musicians were = totally turned off by their experiences with these "pianos".  So let's = also consider this in the equation.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Bob Bergantino</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML> <BR> <P><FONT SIZE=2>---<BR> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.<BR> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).<BR> Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 5/18/2004<BR> </FONT> </P>