I read with great interest Randolph Herr's comments on the pedal
sustain solenoid missing from a solenoid based kit that was being
installed.  I've spoken with many technicians and salespeople on
this subject and there seem to be two schools of thought:

1.  Pianomation's embedded "PedalMagic" eliminates the need for a large
solenoid to lift the dampers.  It holds the keys down to sustain the
notes and does reduce the cost of the system, the cost of installation,
is one less thing to adjust and maintain, etc. etc.

2.  There is a _major_ difference when a single note is held down and
when a note is played with the dampers engaged.  Other strings vibrate
sympathetically and resonate throughout the piano.  You _can_ hear the
difference.

With this being said, I have argued this both ways.  Some customers
simply can't hear the difference, don't care and/or are looking for the
"cheapest" thing you have "that makes the keys go up and down."  For
these people, this is fine.

There are those, though, who _do_ understand, know and recognize
the difference.  For those, a pedal solenoid option exists for the
Pianomation system that overrides the "PedalMagic" technology.  It's
cost is relatively low, it's fairly easily installed for those taking
the time and trouble to do so, is completely reliable and can make a
very nice piano sound really great.  We _always_ put a pedal solenoid on
our nicer pianos with systems leaving "PedalMagic" to do the job on the
low-end Korean, Indonesian and Chinese grands where price, not quality,
drives the sale.

It's great that Pianomation gives you the option allowing the dealer
and customer to decide, although I really do cringe when big classical
pieces are attempted on a 4' 7" piano _and_ without a pedal solenoid
(keyword "attempted").

My two cents,

Gary Jones

P.S.:  My system at home has the pedal solenoid!