<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.3105.105" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" = text=#000000> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Just how many pianos have the Steinway = family members built in the last century. I mean Steinway family members, = working in the factory, actually getting their hands dirty and sweating it = out.  My bet is less than 1% of the total output since their inception into piano = building has any of the family members actually built Steinway = pianos.  Stradivarius, ahhhhh, that was a different situation. He alone, built = all the Strads and thus, in my opinion, those are true Strads.  Steinways = on the other hand...a whole different story.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I hope you are seeing where I heading = with this direction.  Just what is a true Steinway?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Were the CBS years real = Steinways?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In theory a Steinway is in the design = and choice of woods.  If a soundboard needs replacement, and as long as the = design and theory are adhered to, the Steinway can be correctly remanufactured to the Steinway = specifications.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Obviously there are many on this list = who have strong feelings that Steinways can be and should be... more. They = embellish the soundboard, change some of the configurations, change leverage ratios in = the action, and basically create a embellished version of a Steinway. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Is that still considered a = Steinway?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Does that deplete the value of the piano?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>At this point I say who = cares.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My attitude is if a rebuilder does a = magnificent job overcoming some inherent problems and creates this instrument = into a masterpiece...a tip of the hat to them.  If the action turns out to = be a much smoother performing machine than before, is that = wrong?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I guess I'm more humored at the notion = as to what is considered a real Steinway.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There are many of great Steinway pianos = gracing many concert halls and recording studios with no Steinway parts in the = action. Do you think the artist knows or cares? How about Joe Public buying the = CD? Really, who cares. If it sounds great and it happens to be a Steinway....great.  Enjoy it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tom Servinsky, RPT</FONT></DIV> <DIV><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:dporritt@post.cis.smu.edu" title=dporritt@post.cis.smu.edu>David M. Porritt</A> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: = 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title=pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, June 01, 2001 = 12:22 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> It won't be a Steinway = anymore!</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>I have been in this work for just under 30 years.  I've = heard about any question or comment possible by customers.  There's one = though, that completely stumps me!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If a piano needs a new sounding board I often here "...but it = won't be a Steinway anymore."  I often come up with a lame analogy to a race = driver.  He doesn't care what kind of fuel pump his car has as = long as it's the fastest it can be.  Do you want your piano to be the = best it can be, or do you want to keep this old sounding board.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Does anyone have a good, but not glib, answer for these = people?  I just don't understand their thinking.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>dave</DIV><BR><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <META content='"MSHTML 4.72.2106.6"' name=GENERATOR> <DIV> <HR> <FONT size=3>David M. <FONT color=#000000 face="Times New Roman">Porritt</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3><A = href="mailto:dporritt@swbell.net">dporritt@swbell.net</A></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>Meadows School of the Arts</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>Southern Methodist University</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>Dallas, TX 75275</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3> <HR> </FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>