What's wrong w/Steinway XR pianos
MAKitt
I ran an ad for my Steinway 6' 1" grand and numerous dealers called inquiring
whether it was a former reproducer. It is, and none of the dealers were
interested in it. Why not, out of pure curiosity? Also, several yuppie types
came over and expected a complete history, age, model etc. of this elderly
piano and wanted me to describe to them what they were looking at. I invited
them to have a seat, play the instrument and evaluate the richness of it's tone
and the response of it's keys. None seemed impressed with this method of
evaluating a piano. Any comments?
Regards,
Mike
VOCE88
>whether it was a former reproducer. It is, and none of the dealers were
>interested in it. Why not, out of pure curiosity?
Just some thoughts Mike. A reproducing Steinway action actually has different
geometry (design) than the comparable piano without the reproducing unit (The
Model L) and for players is less desirable. However, if if it still has the
DuoArt system intact - CALL ME !!
(Without this system, the piano is much less valuable to someone who KNOWS
them. And even with it, most dealers would not want it, because they know
nothing about them)
Richard Galassini
Cunningham Piano CO
1 800 394 1117
Don
>Thank-you in advance.
>
>I ran an ad for my Steinway 6' 1" grand and numerous dealers called inquiring
>whether it was a former reproducer. It is, and none of the dealers were
>interested in it. Why not, out of pure curiosity? Also, several yuppie types
>came over and expected a complete history, age, model etc. of this elderly
>piano and wanted me to describe to them what they were looking at. I invited
>them to have a seat, play the instrument and evaluate the richness of it's tone
>and the response of it's keys. None seemed impressed with this method of
>evaluating a piano. Any comments?
>Regards,
>Mike
The "yuppie types" were idiots ! ! !
You can quote me above and send it to them.
Before you accepted their evaluation, did you ask them for
credentials?
A good piano is a good piano. If "none seemed impressed with this
method of evaluating a piano," THAT should tell you something about
them...and not about your piano.
D*
Recently described as:
"piano-bar-church music director-conductor-funeral pianist."
------------------------------------------------------------
www.calldon.com/shadow.htm
Remembering Shadow
July 1984 - November 13, 1997
A Tribute To The Sweetest, Most Perfect Dog In Heaven
A440A
>whether it was a former reproducer. It is, and none of the dealers were
>interested in it. Why not, out of pure curiosity?
Greetings,
There may be several reasons. The extra length means more room for a piano
fo similiar scale, the extra length of the keys means a lower power saturation
limit, ( the point of maximum power in the action is lower, due to the
increased flex of the key), and a 70 year old piano often has a soundboard in
poor shape.
I own two ex repros, an XR and an XO, I don't care for the sound of either
of them, since the boards are somewhat weak, but they are both being used
successfully in country recording studios, where brilliance is more important
than fullness, ( thank goodness!) however, other than the key length, I
haven't found that the action is appreciatably different, the ratios are still
in place. Heaviness in these pianos is usually due to verdigris or wrong parts
that were used in replacement.
The repros were built by the factory, but they are different in some
respects. The trapwork must be in excellent condition to operate properly, and
without a conversion job on the shift, the actions are a lot of work to take in
and out.
Without the repro mechanism, it seems they are always worth considerably
less than a straight Steinway of the same model.
Regards,
Ed Foote
Precision Piano Works
Nashville, Tenn. USA
Frank Weston
for profit in a restoration. A restored reproducer without the reproducer
action will generally bring about 1/2 to 2/3 what a similarly sized
non-reproducer will bring - not enough to make the job worthwhile.
Though they are not all yuppies, a lot of people who are looking for a
Steinway really just want furniture that has snob appeal. These people
don't care what the piano sounds like, or even if it plays. They just want
something attractive that says Steinway on it to put in their living room.
To them, the reproducer with its extra legs and strange appearance is just
not pretty enough.
Many serious musicians will also shy away from a reproducer because the
action is a compromise.
So, now you know. Musicians don't want it because it plays funny, snobs
don't want it because it looks funny, dealers don't want it because they
can't make any money. Take heart. If you lower the price enough, sooner
or later someone will want it. If you can put a working reproducer in it,
there is a demand, and it will bring top dollar for its size.
Frank Weston
MAKitt <mak...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19981231202527...@ng144.aol.com>...
> Thank-you in advance.
>
> I ran an ad for my Steinway 6' 1" grand and numerous dealers called
inquiring
> whether it was a former reproducer. It is, and none of the dealers were
Dale B. Robertson
the long keys and spare two cubic feet above the action. This is the ideal
piano to install Midi stuff and such.
My Forte mods love long keys. Give a shout if you have one you want to lose.
DBR
Cc88m
>MAKitt <mak...@aol.com> wrote in article
>> <19981231202527...@ng144.aol.com>...
>> > Thank-you in advance.
>> >
>> > I ran an ad for my Steinway 6' 1" grand and numerous dealers called
>> inquiring
>> > whether it was a former reproducer.
First things first: WHAT IS A REPRODUCER?
(Thank-you in advance).
C. C. Chang
kam...@earthlink.net
Cc88m wrote:
> First things first: WHAT IS A REPRODUCER?
> (Thank-you in advance).
A sophisticated player piano mechanism.
--
Keith McGavern
kam...@earthlink.net
Registered Piano Technician
Oklahoma Chapter 731
Piano Technicians Guild
USA
kam...@earthlink.net
Cc88m wrote:
> ...What is the main difference from other
> player pianos?
"...There were three different models of the Duo-Art system offered over the
years, the so-called "early", "late" and "very-late" versions. The latter
produced in very limited quantities and brought out to meet the challenge
of the Ampico "B". Among player enthusiasts, however, the "late" model
is the most desirable of the three because it allows full "manual con-
trol" of all the expression mechanisms if desired. All these manual con-
trols are missing in the more streamlined "very late" model..."
Les Smith
Thu, 9 Oct 1997
Cc88m
>> First things first: WHAT IS A REPRODUCER?
>> (Thank-you in advance).
>
>A sophisticated player piano mechanism.
I could guess that they are players from the posts, but what is so
sophisticated about the SS XR? What is the main difference from other
player pianos?
C. C. Chang
stef...@lanemusic.com
> > <19981231202527...@ng144.aol.com>...
> > > Thank-you in advance.
> > >
> > > I ran an ad for my Steinway 6' 1" grand and numerous dealers called
> > inquiring
> > > interested in it. Why not, out of pure curiosity? Also, several yuppie
> > types
> > > came over and expected a complete history, age, model etc. of this
> > elderly
> > > piano and wanted me to describe to them what they were looking at. I
> > invited
> > > them to have a seat, play the instrument and evaluate the richness of
> > it's tone
> > > and the response of it's keys. None seemed impressed with this method of
> > > evaluating a piano. Any comments?
> > > Regards,
> > > Mike
> > >
