Pianotech

Thanksgiving dinner with some vegetarians brought to mind a client with an unusual request.<o:p></o:p>

This gentleman has an old baby grand piano, and he has been vegetarian for many years. He is now inclined towards going vegan. That is why he contacted me about replacing his ivory keytops (many of which are chipped) with plastic. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, I mentioned that swapping out the elephant DNA for petrol-products will not bring back the animal that was killed for its tusks over a century ago. <o:p></o:p>

Moreover, ivory is hardly the only animal product found in pianos, particularly older ones. There is the leather on knuckles, backchecks, repetition levers and elsewhere (which these days is increasingly being substituted with ecsaine). If money were no object, it would be possible (at least in theory, if not particularly practical) to separate all the glue joints, remove the animal hide glue that holds EVERYthing together in pianos as old as his and reaffix with an adhesive that would meet with vegan approval (assuming that there IS such a glue). <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>But what about the wool contained in hammer, damper, key-end and other felts, and in action cloth? Wool does not pass vegan muster (just ask the costume designer of Ridley-Scott's just-released "Napoleon" about vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix's refusal to wear a wool hat in the title role), and we would be hard-pressed to come up with a substitute for it. <o:p></o:p>

Ivory may have fallen out of favor as a piano building material, ecsaine may be replacing leather, and other adhesives may have supplanted animal hide glue in many applications in today's pianos. But pianos without wool? Could it be that wool is the most unreplaceable material in the piano as we have known it for well over a century?<o:p></o:p>

After considering possible options further with my client, it occurred to us that even plastic is, technically, also an animal product (from ancient reptilian critters that eventually became the petroleum from which plastic is made). <o:p></o:p>

So, if for no other reason than just for the sake of mental exercise, I pondered (as I munched on my turkey sandwich) whether or not it is even hypothetically possible to make a vegan piano…<o:p></o:p>

Happy Thanksgiving (or whatever you may prefer to call it), y'all!<o:p></o:p>

Alan

<o:p> </o:p>

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Thanksgiving dinner with some vegetarians brought to mind a client with an unusual request.

This gentleman has an old baby grand piano, and he has been vegetarian for many years. He is now inclined towards going vegan. That is why he contacted me about replacing his ivory keytops (many of which are chipped) with plastic. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, I mentioned that swapping out the elephant DNA for petrol-products will not bring back the animal that was killed for its tusks over a century ago. 

Moreover, ivory is hardly the only animal product found in pianos, particularly older ones. There is the leather on knuckles, backchecks, repetition levers and elsewhere (which these days is increasingly being substituted with ecsaine). If money were no object, it would be possible (at least in theory, if not particularly practical) to separate all the glue joints, remove the animal hide glue that holds EVERYthing together in pianos as old as his and reaffix with an adhesive that would meet with vegan approval (assuming that there IS such a glue). 

But what about the wool contained in hammer, damper, key-end and other felts, and in action cloth? Wool does not pass vegan muster (just ask the costume designer of Ridley-Scott's just-released "Napoleon" about vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix's refusal to wear a wool hat in the title role), and we would be hard-pressed to come up with a substitute for it. 

Ivory may have fallen out of favor as a piano building material, ecsaine may be replacing leather, and other adhesives may have supplanted animal hide glue in many applications in today's pianos. But pianos without wool? Could it be that wool is the most unreplaceable material in the piano as we have known it for well over a century?

After considering possible options further with my client, it occurred to us that even plastic is, technically, also an animal product (from ancient reptilian critters that eventually became the petroleum from which plastic is made). 

So, if for no other reason than just for the sake of mental exercise, I pondered (as I munched on my turkey sandwich) whether or not it is even hypothetically possible to make a vegan piano…

Happy Thanksgiving (or whatever you may prefer to call it), y'all!

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Thanksgiving dinner with some vegetarians brought to mind a client with an unusual request.

This gentleman has an old baby grand piano, and he has been vegetarian for many years. He is now inclined towards going vegan. That is why he contacted me about replacing his ivory keytops (many of which are chipped) with plastic. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, I mentioned that swapping out the elephant DNA for petrol-products will not bring back the animal that was killed for its tusks over a century ago. 

Moreover, ivory is hardly the only animal product found in pianos, particularly older ones. There is the leather on knuckles, backchecks, repetition levers and elsewhere (which these days is increasingly being substituted with ecsaine). If money were no object, it would be possible (at least in theory, if not particularly practical) to separate all the glue joints, remove the animal hide glue that holds EVERYthing together in pianos as old as his and reaffix with an adhesive that would meet with vegan approval (assuming that there IS such a glue). 

But what about the wool contained in hammer, damper, key-end and other felts, and in action cloth? Wool does not pass vegan muster (just ask the costume designer of Ridley-Scott's just-released "Napoleon" about vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix's refusal to wear a wool hat in the title role), and we would be hard-pressed to come up with a substitute for it. 

Ivory may have fallen out of favor as a piano building material, ecsaine may be replacing leather, and other adhesives may have supplanted animal hide glue in many applications in today's pianos. But pianos without wool? Could it be that wool is the most unreplaceable material in the piano as we have known it for well over a century?

After considering possible options further with my client, it occurred to us that even plastic is, technically, also an animal product (from ancient reptilian critters that eventually became the petroleum from which plastic is made). 

So, if for no other reason than just for the sake of mental exercise, I pondered (as I munched on my turkey sandwich) whether or not it is even hypothetically possible to make a vegan piano…

Happy Thanksgiving (or whatever you may prefer to call it), y'all!

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

It seems to me that a good case could be made for using wool because it really is healthy for sheep to be sheared. It doesn't harm them and in fact helps them. But as Peter pointed out, it certainly depends on the vegans attitude. 

Thanksgiving dinner with some vegetarians brought to mind a client with an unusual request.

This gentleman has an old baby grand piano, and he has been vegetarian for many years. He is now inclined towards going vegan. That is why he contacted me about replacing his ivory keytops (many of which are chipped) with plastic. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, I mentioned that swapping out the elephant DNA for petrol-products will not bring back the animal that was killed for its tusks over a century ago. 

Moreover, ivory is hardly the only animal product found in pianos, particularly older ones. There is the leather on knuckles, backchecks, repetition levers and elsewhere (which these days is increasingly being substituted with ecsaine). If money were no object, it would be possible (at least in theory, if not particularly practical) to separate all the glue joints, remove the animal hide glue that holds EVERYthing together in pianos as old as his and reaffix with an adhesive that would meet with vegan approval (assuming that there IS such a glue). 

But what about the wool contained in hammer, damper, key-end and other felts, and in action cloth? Wool does not pass vegan muster (just ask the costume designer of Ridley-Scott's just-released "Napoleon" about vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix's refusal to wear a wool hat in the title role), and we would be hard-pressed to come up with a substitute for it. 

Ivory may have fallen out of favor as a piano building material, ecsaine may be replacing leather, and other adhesives may have supplanted animal hide glue in many applications in today's pianos. But pianos without wool? Could it be that wool is the most unreplaceable material in the piano as we have known it for well over a century?

After considering possible options further with my client, it occurred to us that even plastic is, technically, also an animal product (from ancient reptilian critters that eventually became the petroleum from which plastic is made). 

So, if for no other reason than just for the sake of mental exercise, I pondered (as I munched on my turkey sandwich) whether or not it is even hypothetically possible to make a vegan piano…

Happy Thanksgiving (or whatever you may prefer to call it), y'all!

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Scott,

That's the way I see the wool issue. However, activist level vegans contend that sheep are being harmed in the process of shearing, etc (hard to crack that one). It does depend on the reasons why a person is vegan (or plant based). 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

It seems to me that a good case could be made for using wool because it really is healthy for sheep to be sheared. It doesn't harm them and in fact helps them. But as Peter pointed out, it certainly depends on the vegans attitude. 

Thanksgiving dinner with some vegetarians brought to mind a client with an unusual request.

This gentleman has an old baby grand piano, and he has been vegetarian for many years. He is now inclined towards going vegan. That is why he contacted me about replacing his ivory keytops (many of which are chipped) with plastic. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, I mentioned that swapping out the elephant DNA for petrol-products will not bring back the animal that was killed for its tusks over a century ago. 

Moreover, ivory is hardly the only animal product found in pianos, particularly older ones. There is the leather on knuckles, backchecks, repetition levers and elsewhere (which these days is increasingly being substituted with ecsaine). If money were no object, it would be possible (at least in theory, if not particularly practical) to separate all the glue joints, remove the animal hide glue that holds EVERYthing together in pianos as old as his and reaffix with an adhesive that would meet with vegan approval (assuming that there IS such a glue). 

But what about the wool contained in hammer, damper, key-end and other felts, and in action cloth? Wool does not pass vegan muster (just ask the costume designer of Ridley-Scott's just-released "Napoleon" about vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix's refusal to wear a wool hat in the title role), and we would be hard-pressed to come up with a substitute for it. 

Ivory may have fallen out of favor as a piano building material, ecsaine may be replacing leather, and other adhesives may have supplanted animal hide glue in many applications in today's pianos. But pianos without wool? Could it be that wool is the most unreplaceable material in the piano as we have known it for well over a century?

After considering possible options further with my client, it occurred to us that even plastic is, technically, also an animal product (from ancient reptilian critters that eventually became the petroleum from which plastic is made). 

So, if for no other reason than just for the sake of mental exercise, I pondered (as I munched on my turkey sandwich) whether or not it is even hypothetically possible to make a vegan piano…

Happy Thanksgiving (or whatever you may prefer to call it), y'all!

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Scott,

That's the way I see the wool issue. However, activist level vegans contend that sheep are being harmed in the process of shearing, etc (hard to crack that one). It does depend on the reasons why a person is vegan (or plant based). 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

It seems to me that a good case could be made for using wool because it really is healthy for sheep to be sheared. It doesn't harm them and in fact helps them. But as Peter pointed out, it certainly depends on the vegans attitude. 

Thanksgiving dinner with some vegetarians brought to mind a client with an unusual request.

This gentleman has an old baby grand piano, and he has been vegetarian for many years. He is now inclined towards going vegan. That is why he contacted me about replacing his ivory keytops (many of which are chipped) with plastic. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, I mentioned that swapping out the elephant DNA for petrol-products will not bring back the animal that was killed for its tusks over a century ago. 

Moreover, ivory is hardly the only animal product found in pianos, particularly older ones. There is the leather on knuckles, backchecks, repetition levers and elsewhere (which these days is increasingly being substituted with ecsaine). If money were no object, it would be possible (at least in theory, if not particularly practical) to separate all the glue joints, remove the animal hide glue that holds EVERYthing together in pianos as old as his and reaffix with an adhesive that would meet with vegan approval (assuming that there IS such a glue). 

But what about the wool contained in hammer, damper, key-end and other felts, and in action cloth? Wool does not pass vegan muster (just ask the costume designer of Ridley-Scott's just-released "Napoleon" about vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix's refusal to wear a wool hat in the title role), and we would be hard-pressed to come up with a substitute for it. 

Ivory may have fallen out of favor as a piano building material, ecsaine may be replacing leather, and other adhesives may have supplanted animal hide glue in many applications in today's pianos. But pianos without wool? Could it be that wool is the most unreplaceable material in the piano as we have known it for well over a century?

After considering possible options further with my client, it occurred to us that even plastic is, technically, also an animal product (from ancient reptilian critters that eventually became the petroleum from which plastic is made). 

So, if for no other reason than just for the sake of mental exercise, I pondered (as I munched on my turkey sandwich) whether or not it is even hypothetically possible to make a vegan piano…

Happy Thanksgiving (or whatever you may prefer to call it), y'all!

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11/25/2023 9:30:00 PM
From: Peter Grey
Subject: RE: Vegan pianos?

Scott,

That's the way I see the wool issue. However, activist level vegans contend that sheep are being harmed in the process of shearing, etc (hard to crack that one). It does depend on the reasons why a person is vegan (or plant based). 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 11-25-2023 20:39
From: Scott Kerns
Subject: Vegan pianos?

It seems to me that a good case could be made for using wool because it really is healthy for sheep to be sheared. It doesn't harm them and in fact helps them. But as Peter pointed out, it certainly depends on the vegans attitude. 

------------------------------
"That Tuning Guy"
Scott Kerns
Lincoln, Nebraska
www.thattuningguy.com

Original Message:
Sent: 11-25-2023 11:13
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Vegan pianos?

Thanksgiving dinner with some vegetarians brought to mind a client with an unusual request.

This gentleman has an old baby grand piano, and he has been vegetarian for many years. He is now inclined towards going vegan. That is why he contacted me about replacing his ivory keytops (many of which are chipped) with plastic. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, I mentioned that swapping out the elephant DNA for petrol-products will not bring back the animal that was killed for its tusks over a century ago. 

Moreover, ivory is hardly the only animal product found in pianos, particularly older ones. There is the leather on knuckles, backchecks, repetition levers and elsewhere (which these days is increasingly being substituted with ecsaine). If money were no object, it would be possible (at least in theory, if not particularly practical) to separate all the glue joints, remove the animal hide glue that holds EVERYthing together in pianos as old as his and reaffix with an adhesive that would meet with vegan approval (assuming that there IS such a glue). 

But what about the wool contained in hammer, damper, key-end and other felts, and in action cloth? Wool does not pass vegan muster (just ask the costume designer of Ridley-Scott's just-released "Napoleon" about vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix's refusal to wear a wool hat in the title role), and we would be hard-pressed to come up with a substitute for it. 

Ivory may have fallen out of favor as a piano building material, ecsaine may be replacing leather, and other adhesives may have supplanted animal hide glue in many applications in today's pianos. But pianos without wool? Could it be that wool is the most unreplaceable material in the piano as we have known it for well over a century?

After considering possible options further with my client, it occurred to us that even plastic is, technically, also an animal product (from ancient reptilian critters that eventually became the petroleum from which plastic is made). 

So, if for no other reason than just for the sake of mental exercise, I pondered (as I munched on my turkey sandwich) whether or not it is even hypothetically possible to make a vegan piano…

Happy Thanksgiving (or whatever you may prefer to call it), y'all!

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

The conditions that a wild animal normally lives in are also barbaric! 

Constantly searching for decent food, being infested with parasites, diseases attacking with every encounter with other animals and constant threats or attacks by preaditors. 

A wild animal is guaranteed to die a horrible death, either by parasites, disease, starvation or being eaten by a preditor (often while you are still alive).

A farmed animal is essentially guaranteed the most idyllic life and death possible.

------------------------------
Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 390-0512

Original Message:
Sent: 11-25-2023 22:18
From: Wim Blees
Subject: Vegan pianos?

Original Message:
Sent: 11/25/2023 9:30:00 PM
From: Peter Grey
Subject: RE: Vegan pianos?

Scott,

That's the way I see the wool issue. However, activist level vegans contend that sheep are being harmed in the process of shearing, etc (hard to crack that one). It does depend on the reasons why a person is vegan (or plant based). 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 11-25-2023 20:39
From: Scott Kerns
Subject: Vegan pianos?

It seems to me that a good case could be made for using wool because it really is healthy for sheep to be sheared. It doesn't harm them and in fact helps them. But as Peter pointed out, it certainly depends on the vegans attitude. 

------------------------------
"That Tuning Guy"
Scott Kerns
Lincoln, Nebraska
www.thattuningguy.com

Original Message:
Sent: 11-25-2023 11:13
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Vegan pianos?

Thanksgiving dinner with some vegetarians brought to mind a client with an unusual request.

This gentleman has an old baby grand piano, and he has been vegetarian for many years. He is now inclined towards going vegan. That is why he contacted me about replacing his ivory keytops (many of which are chipped) with plastic. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, I mentioned that swapping out the elephant DNA for petrol-products will not bring back the animal that was killed for its tusks over a century ago. 

Moreover, ivory is hardly the only animal product found in pianos, particularly older ones. There is the leather on knuckles, backchecks, repetition levers and elsewhere (which these days is increasingly being substituted with ecsaine). If money were no object, it would be possible (at least in theory, if not particularly practical) to separate all the glue joints, remove the animal hide glue that holds EVERYthing together in pianos as old as his and reaffix with an adhesive that would meet with vegan approval (assuming that there IS such a glue). 

But what about the wool contained in hammer, damper, key-end and other felts, and in action cloth? Wool does not pass vegan muster (just ask the costume designer of Ridley-Scott's just-released "Napoleon" about vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix's refusal to wear a wool hat in the title role), and we would be hard-pressed to come up with a substitute for it. 

Ivory may have fallen out of favor as a piano building material, ecsaine may be replacing leather, and other adhesives may have supplanted animal hide glue in many applications in today's pianos. But pianos without wool? Could it be that wool is the most unreplaceable material in the piano as we have known it for well over a century?

After considering possible options further with my client, it occurred to us that even plastic is, technically, also an animal product (from ancient reptilian critters that eventually became the petroleum from which plastic is made). 

So, if for no other reason than just for the sake of mental exercise, I pondered (as I munched on my turkey sandwich) whether or not it is even hypothetically possible to make a vegan piano…

Happy Thanksgiving (or whatever you may prefer to call it), y'all!

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

These type of discussions too often turn into a rather downhill direction as everyone has an opinion, some more extreme than others. There is usually at least a grain of truth to each one.

Personally, I think that if someone is willing to pay the price to develop such a thing I'd go along with it. But if they want it on a shoestring...forget it (whichnis usually where this ends in my experience).

IIRC Steingraeber has an "all natural" piano they will make. Precisely what that means I don't know. I'm sure a "vegan friendly" instrument could be constructed. The problem is that the market for such things is so tiny that it's not commercially viable. Thus the need for a very wealthy and determined vegan to fund the research. 

EDIT: We can all thank Walt Disney for making us think that animals are like people. (Walt had some "interesting" ideas of his own too). 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 11-26-2023 01:07
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: Vegan pianos?

The conditions that a wild animal normally lives in are also barbaric! 

Constantly searching for decent food, being infested with parasites, diseases attacking with every encounter with other animals and constant threats or attacks by preaditors. 

A wild animal is guaranteed to die a horrible death, either by parasites, disease, starvation or being eaten by a preditor (often while you are still alive).

A farmed animal is essentially guaranteed the most idyllic life and death possible.

------------------------------
Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 390-0512

Original Message:
Sent: 11-25-2023 22:18
From: Wim Blees
Subject: Vegan pianos?

Original Message:
Sent: 11/25/2023 9:30:00 PM
From: Peter Grey
Subject: RE: Vegan pianos?

Scott,

That's the way I see the wool issue. However, activist level vegans contend that sheep are being harmed in the process of shearing, etc (hard to crack that one). It does depend on the reasons why a person is vegan (or plant based). 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 11-25-2023 20:39
From: Scott Kerns
Subject: Vegan pianos?

It seems to me that a good case could be made for using wool because it really is healthy for sheep to be sheared. It doesn't harm them and in fact helps them. But as Peter pointed out, it certainly depends on the vegans attitude. 

------------------------------
"That Tuning Guy"
Scott Kerns
Lincoln, Nebraska
www.thattuningguy.com

Original Message:
Sent: 11-25-2023 11:13
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Vegan pianos?

Thanksgiving dinner with some vegetarians brought to mind a client with an unusual request.

This gentleman has an old baby grand piano, and he has been vegetarian for many years. He is now inclined towards going vegan. That is why he contacted me about replacing his ivory keytops (many of which are chipped) with plastic. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, I mentioned that swapping out the elephant DNA for petrol-products will not bring back the animal that was killed for its tusks over a century ago. 

Moreover, ivory is hardly the only animal product found in pianos, particularly older ones. There is the leather on knuckles, backchecks, repetition levers and elsewhere (which these days is increasingly being substituted with ecsaine). If money were no object, it would be possible (at least in theory, if not particularly practical) to separate all the glue joints, remove the animal hide glue that holds EVERYthing together in pianos as old as his and reaffix with an adhesive that would meet with vegan approval (assuming that there IS such a glue). 

But what about the wool contained in hammer, damper, key-end and other felts, and in action cloth? Wool does not pass vegan muster (just ask the costume designer of Ridley-Scott's just-released "Napoleon" about vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix's refusal to wear a wool hat in the title role), and we would be hard-pressed to come up with a substitute for it. 

Ivory may have fallen out of favor as a piano building material, ecsaine may be replacing leather, and other adhesives may have supplanted animal hide glue in many applications in today's pianos. But pianos without wool? Could it be that wool is the most unreplaceable material in the piano as we have known it for well over a century?

After considering possible options further with my client, it occurred to us that even plastic is, technically, also an animal product (from ancient reptilian critters that eventually became the petroleum from which plastic is made). 

So, if for no other reason than just for the sake of mental exercise, I pondered (as I munched on my turkey sandwich) whether or not it is even hypothetically possible to make a vegan piano…

Happy Thanksgiving (or whatever you may prefer to call it), y'all!

Alan

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------