$175K +/- 50K.

Good guess Charles.
It would be + (and a little more)

Know what this is called?

A good excuse to leave early?


j/k! Hope you had a successful trip Frank.

The view from the terrace at the NAMM show.
(Going to try the rides tomorrow/Monday)...

Sejung gives Baldwin a challenge...

Great to finally meet you and Kathy Frank, I will send you your Mr. Kawai photos soon!

Is it a new model or a rebuillt Bluthner?

The concept being no one can sneak into the room while you're playing without being seen.

hmmm..I kinda like that blue color..not so much the dolphins the blue grows on you..reminds me of Kenny Burrells Blue guitar..

Your wind instrument looks like a big didgeridoo.

Yup, looks like a didgeridoo (also known as a didjeridu or didge)

Bear

The piano is new and the finish is lacquer.

Hey you met Mr Houston (The "Piano" Guy)

Is there any more information on the possibility of a high definition playback system from PianoDisc that was discussed in an earlier post?

looks like so much fun!

were there any piano parties this year?

That would be a piano finished with mirrors.

To me this is the ultimate case finish - all finish, no case.

Rich

I'm quite impressed with the artwork on there.

This is a new Bluthner model 2 (7'8).
It is a Rosewood veneer with a French polish.


Frank,

It was great seeing you again, and meeting with Kathy at NAMM.
Perhaps we'll meet again sooner than next year!

Ori

I'm not sure if it is a french polish - it was discussed in a previous thread somewhere, and Rod said it was laquer...?

Either way, whilst the piano is STUNNING to look at, I find the finish disappointing.

It's milky, as if applied in a damp environment.

When I learnt to french polish I made this mistake early on, and it's not a pleasant effect sadly It would look a million dollars done with a Button or Garnet polish!

My opinion only of course...

That is not a french finish.

Of course not - it's *German*....

I admit.. must hand it to Bluethner....

Norbert

Time will tell. So far he has followed through with everything he has told me. That really is his long-term plan and vision. He has been remarkably open to suggestion.


The company actually has a large number of CNC machines. Part of my work there is integrating the design with the capabilities of the machinery and then working to improve those areas that do not lend themselves readily to machine operation.


Yes. Just as I have to sell them on any design or process change I recommend. I would not want them accept everything I tell them without question. Anyone working in my capacity—an independent consultant who does not have a long history with the company and who does not even speak the same language—must expect this. As long as I can give good, sound reasons for the decisions I make they have been open to them.


It might have been the performance of the first prototype that was convincing.


He is certainly working toward that end. I, however, am not qualified to comment on whether or not progress is being made with the digital instruments.

A side note: One of the side benefits of this work is the opportunity to meet some interesting people. While at the NAMM show I met Ray Kurzweil and was able to chat with him at some length—a very interesting man.


Well, it may end up being cut by abrasive waterjet. This gives a slightly smoother cut surface. For me the biggest advantage of going with laser cutting technology is that the job shop doing this work is just down the street.

No date as yet. I work on the project as time and resources permit.

ddf

The discussion reminds me on the time Joseph Pramberger tried to build a much better piano at Y.C. called then after himself.

I once spoke to Joe [when he was still alive...] and asked him exactly about the difficulties he encountered when doing his project in Korea.

Joe was very open about this: interestingly enough, it had nothing to do with *machines* or *equipment*.

Perhaps things have changed since: the last time I saw Y.C pianos at NAMM 2007 I was actually quite pleasantly surprised.

Perhaps another example that bar is constantly being raised and the stakes in the industry moving upwards...

Norbert

At the Kawai Dealer Reception (thanks for the invite Hale, enjoyed meeting you and the others).




The rest of the table...


[Still waiting for my pictures with Mr. Kawai...]

A few other pianos from the show...











If you move quickly, you can see a bunch of pictures and videos on the NAMM web site.

If I get a chance I'm going to try to download/copy some of them.

http://www.namm.org/thenammshow

Wowsers. Apparently Yamaha shelled out some dough to raise the profile of those little digital grands:

http://www.namm.org/namm-show-live/articles/namm-show-2009-video-alicia-keys

Norbert posted, I think the key element is the new CEO's attitude. Bringing in Del Fandrich shows some smarts and going for lower tension scales, especially on the Weber line, shows an awareness of product differentiation.

This guy did a great job turning around the auto division - and he's a music lover.

As has been discussed several times in threads re Chinese-made pianos, intent is decisive - as in, IMO, "Slow down."

Del, are you at liberty to disclose any details of the scale design changes being made to the YC pianos? I assume you're shortening the speaking lengths and increasing the backscale, but is the arrangement of the strings - bass/tenor break, which notes have 1, 2 and 3 strings each, which (if any) are trichord wrapped, etc?