Pianotech

  • 1.  Steinway Rebuilds and Decals

    Member
    Posted 02-14-2019 10:36
    this article appeared in the music trades recently and leaves a lot of questions in my mind. I am in the process of proposing a
    rebuild of the top action in a Steinway M that has a mixture of parts in it and a number of issues . someone someplace swapped out the whippens , put in universal whippens and reused the verdigris loaded clamshell flanges. same thing with the hammers- new shanks/felt/knuckles with old clamshell flanges. they also doused the action with teflon or possibly baby powder. action plays heavy and hangs up

      i don't need a decal but what do I explain to the customer - should I just propose Steinway only parts plus my action rebuild fees or do i give her a less expensive option using high quality rebuilder proven parts and get a signoff from her that she now has a Steinwas .... and it will bring less in the future and is "counterfeit" 
     this article seems to threaten big time legal action and legal exposure to any technician who uses any non-steinway part
     Can we get some help from the PTG legal team in making up a legal document template we can attach to proposals so that customers can not say they never where told that adding non-Steinway parts would make their pianos a Steinwas ?  I see problems down the road when an owners estate tries to sell a deceased's piano and finds out the piano is no longer a genuine Steinway. Same thing if we broker a piano for resale that has mixed parts
    if you don't think this will happen think again. i have had people insist that grandmas or mothers piano is worth 25k or more when in fact it needed a total action rebuild. when i quoted using S&S genuine parts plus my work I never heard back

       https://www.musictrades.com/news1.html

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    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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  • 2.  RE: Steinway Rebuilds and Decals

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-14-2019 11:04
    This article appears to be a distillation of the letter from Steinway with one key misinterpretation. 

    The Steinway letter said that any unauthorized  decals will be considered counterfeit 

    the journalist seems to have interpreted that line to mean that the pianos themselves are considered counterfeit.

    the most relevant bits of info are below

    Read the original letter here
    https://www.steinwaycontent.com/images/decals-unlimited-letter.pdf

    And the opinion of the PTG attorney here
    https://my.ptg.org/executiveoutlook/letter

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    Daniel DeBiasio
    Brooklyn, NY
    646.801.8863
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  • 3.  RE: Steinway Rebuilds and Decals

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-14-2019 11:46
    Daniel,
    You again are misrepresenting what the content of the DEC 11, 2018 Steinway Musical Instruments, (SMI Inc.) statement regarding sales of used Steinway pianos means.

    Read paragraph 4.

    Daniel, since the PTG legal team has concluded that SMI Inc. claim that selling a used Steinway that does not have certain replaced parts at current (one must assume since SMI Inc. only rebuilds old Steinways to current specs), specifications is a restraint of trade. Your continued misinformation campaign could be construed as actions joining SMI Inc. in the practice of restraint of trade. And you are doing so on a platform owned by the members of the PTG. And this contravenes acting in good will towards your fellow members.

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    Edward McMorrow
    Edmonds WA
    425-299-3431
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