<!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 5.50.4134.600" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000080 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=rbrekne@broadpark.no = href="mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no">Richard Brekne</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> September 24, 2001 12:50 = PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: 1 string, 2 = strings, 3 strings or more</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV>  <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE="CITE"> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>You're entitled to your = opinion. Just don't complain when someone buys a Petrof because they actually like the = way it sounds and when they are willing to accept the mechanical = limitations of the instrument to get that sound. The mechanical limitations, after all, = can mostly be overcome by a reasonably accomplished technician. The = folks buying these pianos based on their performance are also entitled to their = opinions. And if they manage to save a few thousand in the process...so what? = Good for them.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>We are all entitled to our opinions, and no doubt have them. That = being said,  I have never complained to a customer about their choice = of pianos. And my "opinion" of Petrofs (or any other piano) doesnt come = into this particular equation at all. A poorly manufactured piano is exactly = that... and nothing can change that. Pinblocks that come apart or are installed = such that you can drop a 5 mm thick peice of wood between the block and the = plate are not issues of opinion. Nor are poorly spun bass strings, nor bridge = pins that are sloppy and angled all over the place, nor agraffes that are turned = in all manner of depth and angles.  I also must take issue with the = presumption that a field tech should be expected to deal with these kinds of = "limitations" on brand new instruments that claim to be of quality manufacture. = Further, dealing with these limitations costs money, and there goes any  = "savings" out the window... plus some. </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <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> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE="CITE"> <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></BLOCKQUOTE> <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></BLOCKQUOTE> <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><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </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> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <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> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <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> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>Del</FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>Delwin D Fandrich<BR>Piano Designer = & Builder<BR>Hoquiam, Washington  USA<BR>E.mail:  <A href="mailto:pianobuilders@olynet.com">pianobuilders@olynet.com</A><BR>= Web Site:  <A href="http://www.pianobuilders.com">www.pianobuilders.com</A></FONT></D= IV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>