<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Hi David,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Your question seems to infer that some = might think that the changes made might reduce the value of the = instrument.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But it might also work the other way also.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To me it is sort of like changing an = auto from stock to a real super rod. The owner/seller would tout the value of the = changes to the buyer to raise the value of the item in the buyers = eyes.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Then on the other hand when = rewhatevering an old antique the value of the item most often goes down the drain so to = speak. Not from its loss of quality but from other ascetic</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>values lost.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>Joe Goss<BR><A href="mailto:imatunr@srvinet.com">imatunr@srvinet.com</A><BR><A href="http://www.mothergoosetools.com">www.mothergoosetools.com</A></DI= V> <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=davidlovepianos@earthlink.net href="mailto:davidlovepianos@earthlink.net">David Love</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, November 17, 2002 = 7:57 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> When is a Steinway = still a Steinway</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Back to pianos, hopefully.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Had this discussion the other day with another = tech when we were talking about a Steinway M and a couple of proposed changes which = included: a new bass bridge, getting rid of the cantilever and = lengthening the backscale, rescaling the piano and changing many of the gauges, = especially in the upper end of the piano, detuning the duplexes and adding a new counterbearing bar in the capo section to change the string angle and = duplex length...  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Several questions arise considering recent = discussions about patent infringements, though this takes a slightly different = angle.  At what point do changes breach any tacit understandings/agreements about = what can be done to a piano and still call it that maker's piano?  = Does the technician have any legal or other obligation to adhere to the = designers intention, or commit any breach by making such changes?  What is = the responsibility to inform customers of such changes (say in a spec = situation with a piano for sale)?  Or any other considerations that I have = not mentioned, or though of.  These types of changes, I realize, are = made all the time.  What obligation do we have as technicians in such situations?  Any other thoughts on the subject would be appreciated.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>