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<p>Delwin D Fandrich wrote:
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<div dir=ltr><font color="#000080">Sounds like you're describing the S&S
pianos I prepped back in the 1970s and 1980s. Or current Kawai and Yamaha
pinblock to plate flange fitting. While I have limited personal experience
with Petrof pianos, quite a few of my acquaintances have quite a lot and
they relate little of what you describe in the pianos they service. Who
am I to believe? (In fairness to S&S, their build quality has improved
quite a bit since then though most of the design issues remain.)</font></div>
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<br>Not having much experience with NY Steinways of that period, I will
simply have to take your word on that, Tho I have lots of Hamburgs laying
around from that time and none of those show even the remotest sign of
these kinds of problems. Kawai's we dont see a lot of here, butYamahas
are aplenty everywhere you go... but that plate flange fitting gets into
this tuning pin bushing story. Cant say I have run into a Yamaha that needed
a new block yet so I havent had the opportunity to really check this out.
When I do, I think I might have a go at leaving out the bushings... just
out of curiosity... I know I know... magic circle....still it might be
fun to try out.
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<div dir=ltr><font color="#000080">I still maintain that a well designed
inexpensive piano can/will outperform a poorly designed expensive one.
It's just that there is a dearth of well designed pianos available in any
price range. (At least by 2001 design standards. There are quite a few
well designed pianos by 1901 standards.)</font></div>
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<div dir=ltr>I dont recall anyone mentioning a problem with piano
>>design<< issues. But ok.. have it your way. I still
maintain that a poorly built piano, regardless of how well designed it
is, will remain a poorly built piano and as such will not outperform much
of anything.</div>
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<div dir=ltr><font color="#000080">Yes, it will remain a poorly built piano
but it might well outperform those S&S pianos you're so fond of. At
least initially. But this does bring up another point of performance, and
one that is deliberately hidden (usually) from the original buyer. And
that is one of longevity.</font></div>
<div dir=ltr> </div>
<div dir=ltr><font color="#000080">One reason I've consistently recommended
that folks buy pianos like the S&S, even though I'm fully aware of
their faults, is that in fifty or a hundred years our ancestors will be
able to rebuild/remanufacture them and they will keep on going, serving
the musical needs of yet future generations.</font></div>
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<div dir=ltr><font color="#000080">I consider this to be a part of the
overall performance package. And it is one reason why I do not endorse
some pianos that many on this list regard as great and wonderful instruments.
They are going to be virtually impossible to rebuild/remanufacture when
the time comes. Or their value will be so low as to make that option financially
unattractive.</font></div>
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<div dir=ltr><font color="#000080">I have a growing contempt for disposable
pianos, modern or old, cheap vertical or concert grand. The earth does
not, and cannot have given today's population, the resources to continue
satisfying society's desire for cheap, disposable products whether they
be pianos or widgets.</font></div>
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<br>Grin... outside of this tendancy you have of insisting on putting words
into my mouth... I find myself happily in complete aggreement with the
remainder of this posting. I am especially in aggreement and pleased
to see you make the point about longevity. I was going to get into this
myself on the spinoff thread you have about Prambergers, but I have not
run into a Pramy YC yet. But my experience with previous YC and Samicks
has been that they up and die really early. I've seen many as 10 to 15
years old that just dont have any "Klang" left... I mean nothing at all...
just a weird sort of thudish sound.
<p>I am also not particular pleased with the throw away mentality. And
for similiar reasons to your own.
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<div dir=ltr><font color="#000080">Del</font></div>
<div dir=ltr><font color="#000080">Delwin D Fandrich</font>
<br><font color="#000080">Piano Designer & Builder</font>
<br><font color="#000080">Hoquiam, Washington USA</font>
<br><font color="#000080">E.mail: <a href="mailto:pianobuilders@olynet.com">pianobuilders@olynet.com</a></font>
<br><font color="#000080">Web Site: <a href="http://www.pianobuilders.com">www.pianobuilders.com</a></font></div>
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<p><br>--
<br>Richard Brekne
<br>RPT, N.P.T.F.
<br>Bergen, Norway
<br><A HREF="mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no">mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no</A>
<br>
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