Comments for High End Piano Guy» – High End Piano Guy

Comment on What does quality mean? by Eric

Eric — Tue, 18 May 2010 07:31:00 +0000

Hi Peter
Thanks, as usual, for your comment.

This equation in fact works very well for the maker with a dominating reputation for quality but trouble with consistency. People want to believe in a reputation.

My problem is that maintaining the reputation takes explanations.
To the average buyer the explanations make sense. After all piano building IS hard, and a company may have indeed made a large number of good instruments.

But the result is ultimately limiting, to the buyer and to the industry because there are makers out there that don’t need explanations.

Ideally the buyer should just be asked one question: “do you like it?”. If not, then perhaps another brand is more appropriate for your individual taste and communication style. The makers I try to bring attention to all agree with this philosophy.

The more one travels the path of, “well, try another:, or “let it get broken in” or “our technician will make it right after all, 98% of….” the more one risks actually driving a round peg in a square hole.

There are makers of square pegs out there. To me, one peg does not fit all.

Comment on What does quality mean? by Peter Sumner

Peter Sumner — Tue, 18 May 2010 05:44:06 +0000

Thought provoking as usual…

The last para is a little misleading though….in a way….
It isn’t as if any particular piano is being foisted on an individual purchaser….they do get to choose….and hopefully they choose one they like…one that their technician has checked over….and one the their bank balance can accommodate…
Primarily they choose one that feels good to them as an individual…
It is something that they feel they can play music on and communicate.

The variations that occur are the result of a manufacturing system that has worked for them…..and they have probably made more good pianos than anyone else…
That last line I heard from Chris Martin iv of the Martin Guitar Company when someone asked him about variable quality in their 1970′s production…

I hope you have, or soon will land, running hard in the business…good luck..

Comment on 2010 NAMM part 4 – Bösendorfer and Yamaha by Anton Zanesco

Anton Zanesco — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:55:13 +0000

this is a very relevant analysis of the situation.
I worked at the vienna part of Boesendorfer when kimball owned the business of running the name Boesendorfer.
to be honest as a person who knows that factory quite well
( and off course I am proud to have worked and trained there)
the yamaha organisation still has to overcome a majour cultural
difference in the aproach to the business of music.
and that is why Boesendorfer will be used until all knowledge of
180 years will be integraded into the yamaha name and Boesendorfer
will slowly be faded out. ( Kimball tried the same thing )
very much enjoyed your article.

Comment on Frankfurt Music Show 2010 by panama

panama — Sun, 09 May 2010 03:35:54 +0000

Good post – and good domain by the way!

Comment on NEXT!!! by Tinky

Tinky — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:49:27 +0000

Can’t wait to hear what’s next on the horizon………

Comment on Travels – Berlin by Tinky

Tinky — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:06:51 +0000

I want to go eat there NOW. Well, maybe after the ice melts……..

Comment on Out of tune recordings by Eric

Eric — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:53:03 +0000

Hi Peter
Thanks a lot for the comment and for your open mindedness regarding our journeys.

Some of the worst tunings are found on Bill Evans recordings. Yes, they were live club recordings etc but jeez, they are so bad! The reality is that the subtleties of the harmony used by people like Evans or Brubeck get lost when the tuning is so bad. This issue is especially sensitive for me since I lined up a tuner for an important recording a couple of years ago. The result is a disc of really great music I can’t listen to! Oh crap.

Comment on Out of tune recordings by Peter Sumner

Peter Sumner — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:39:58 +0000

A great point Eric…Waaay back, I got hooked on Brubeck…Time Out…love the tune “Sweet Meadow Lark”…but I always wondered what there was about the transition from Brubeck to Desmond when the Sax takes over….Fuzzy blends into pure tone…sunshine.
Now I know that the piano is horribly out of tune…back then as a 14 year old it just sounded odd.
Enjoy your blog very much….don’t always agree with your point of view…we’re on different journeys…but I do respect your opinions.

Peter Sumner, Concert Piano Technician.
Modern era Steinway and Sons specialist.

Comment on The problem with sports by Tinky

Tinky — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:22:28 +0000

I like to think that in the arts we ALL win. But that’s the kind of goofy optimist I am. Anyway, I liked this post–but then I’ve never seen the point of competitive sports or sports metaphors!

Comment on Fixing my piano – now the work begins by Eric

Eric — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:10:32 +0000

Hi Andrew
Pianoworks is a great rebuilding shop and can easily do the bridge work and restringing that I required. No, the result is no longer absolutely authentically Yamaha, but that is the price you eventually pay. Yamaha does not offer these kinds of services, so I had no choice but to go outside.

Bridge capping is straight forward, if you are a skilled rebuilder. However as you can see from my post, it is not without its risks and should not be taken too lightly.

I used a pinblock from Bolduc in Canada. Besides being a friend of mine, Bolduc makes truly excellent pinblocks and soundboards.

It took about 10 tunings over 2 months for the strings to settle to the point where I felt a tuning was stable. For a normal person (not somebody who does their own tunings or maybe is as picky as me) 4 tunings over 6 months will probably work.

Thanks for reading.