I would like to respond to the observation in 020131 MMDigest about
player systems being a hindrance to selling a piano in a retail
establishment.  There are a few aspects to this observation.

I will readily agree that there are indeed many, many retrofit
solenoid player systems that are true detriments to even the finest
piano.  However, some retrofit solenoid player systems have been
properly installed and are a major improvement to the typical "silent
piano" for folks who never mastered the piano.

Also, it's now fairly well established that selling an automatic piano
is not intuitively obvious.  MMD readers may not know that there are
several different methods for selling a "silent" piano.  One is the
so-called "nuts and bolts" presentation where the sales person takes
pains to point out to the novice piano buyer the quality of the
components used in the instrument being promoted.  There are other
methods, too.

Selling a well-installed player (note the qualifier "well-installed")
in a tuned and regulated piano can be helped by pre-qualifying the
interested party.  One can inquire as to the kinds of piano music the
customer prefers.  Fats Waller tunes won't do much for the classical
music devotee.

In the 23 years I've been involved with retrofit solenoid player
systems I've encountered very very few dissatisfied customers, in part
because these folk were looking for the antidote to the "silent piano".
On the contrary, most turned out to have been very enthusiastic
purchasers who found a great deal of enjoyment in being able to hear
their favorite artists and music at the touch of a button!

I suspect that an enthusiastic sales person who knows the ins and outs
of a particular, well-regulated player system of good pedigree will
find that it can generate a lot of interest among non-playing customers.
It seems that quite a few grand pianos are sold "to make a statement"
about the lifestyle of the buyer.

I think that a player-equipped piano provides a more melodious statement
than a silent one.  Finally, it's worth noting that automatic pianos
continue to generate a very large proportion of the gross profit of one
of the largest piano manufacturers in the world.  If player systems
were such a detriment, I'd doubt that this company's personnel would
continue to manufacture and promote these self-playing pianos.  Nor do
I see this company's used player pianos selling at a disproportional
discount to manual pianos.

Regards,

Bob Baker - Electric Orchestras, Inc.
Libertyville, IL