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Tables of Contents for The Piano Book
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
Foreword
vi
Keith Jarrett
Preface
ix
Preface to the Fourth Edition
x
How to Use This Book
xi
How the Piano Works
1
11
The Action
9
3
How the Action Works in a Vertical Piano
9
1
How the Action Works in a Grand Piano
9
3
Buying a Piano: An Orientation
12
5
Initial Considerations
12
3
Proficiency Level
12
1
Space
12
1
Money
13
1
Furniture
13
1
Should I Buy a Grand or a Vertical Piano?
13
1
What Size Piano Should I Buy?
14
1
Should I Buy a New or a Used Piano?
15
1
Looking For a Piano (or Zen and the Art of Piano Buying)
15
2
Buying a New Piano
17
59
Marketing
17
2
How Pianos Differ in Quality and Features
19
41
Case and Cabinet Construction, Styling, and Finish
20
8
Structural and Tuning Stability
28
5
Scale Design and Strings
33
6
Bridges and Soundboard
39
2
Listening to Tone
41
3
The Action
44
3
Keys
47
4
Hammers
51
2
Pedals and Trapwork
53
3
Final Preparation
56
1
Serviceability
57
1
Warranty
57
3
Shopping For a New Piano
60
16
The Approach
60
3
Choosing a Piano Dealer
63
1
Prices, Sales, and Merchandising
64
2
But Is It a Good Value?
66
1
Does It Hold Its Value?
67
1
How to Save Money
68
2
Price and Service
70
1
Dealing With Trade-Ins
71
1
Shopping For a New Piano on the Internet
72
1
Servicing After Delivery
73
1
Buying a School or Institutional Piano
74
2
A Consumer Guide to New and Recently Made Pianos
76
96
The New Piano Survey
76
4
The Myth of Objectivity
76
1
The Survey and Its Limitations
77
1
How to Use This Guide
78
1
Need More Help?
79
1
Ratings
80
7
Summary of Brands and Ratings in Alphabetical Order
81
3
Summary of Brands and Ratings in Approximate Descending Order of Quality
84
3
The Piano Industry Today: An Overview
87
3
Index to Trade Names
90
2
Stencil Pianos
92
1
Brand-by-Brand Listings and Reviews
92
68
Electronic Player Piano Systems and Hybrid Acoustic/Digital Pianos
160
12
Commentary and Comparisons
168
4
Buying a Used Piano
172
42
What's Out There
172
8
How Long Does a Piano Last?
174
1
Brief Notes on a Few Old Piano Brands
175
1
Should I Buy a Used, ``Gray Market'' Yamaha or Kawai Piano?
176
2
Old Player and Reproducing Pianos
178
2
How To Find a Used Piano
180
4
Contacting Technicians and Rebuilding Shops
180
1
Repair, Reconditioning, and Rebuilding
181
1
Grand Piano Rebuilding Checklist
182
Visiting New Piano Dealers
181
1
Visiting Used Piano Dealers
181
1
Answering Ads
182
1
Hunting Up a Piano
183
1
Shopping on the Internet
183
1
Obtaining a Piano From Friends and Relatives
184
1
Checking Out the Piano
184
18
Looks, Styling, and Finish
185
1
Opening Up the Piano For Inspection
185
1
Pitch and Tuning
185
1
The Pinblock
185
5
Strings
190
1
Bridges
191
1
Structural Integrity
192
1
Soundboard and Ribs
192
1
The Action
193
2
Keys
195
1
Hammers
195
2
Dampers
197
1
Pedals
197
1
Regulation
198
2
Serial Number
200
1
Closing the Piano
200
1
Used-Piano Checklist
201
1
How Much Is It Worth?
202
1
Depreciation Schedule For Pianos
203
1
Prices of Used Pianos
204
After the Sale
202
1
Moving
202
1
Warranty
202
1
Tuning
203
1
Selling Your Piano
203
3
Addendum: Buying a Used Steinway or Mason & Hamlin
206
8
Soundboard
207
1
Pinblock
207
1
Action Parts
207
1
Hammers
208
1
Design Changes
208
1
Teflon Bushings
208
1
Verdigris
209
1
Rebuilding Quality
209
1
List of Steinway Models from 1853 to Present
210
3
Steinway Dates and Serial Numbers
213
1
Piano Moving and Storage
214
8
Why Not to Move a Piano Yourself
214
1
How Pianos are Moved
214
2
Moving a Piano Around a Room
216
1
Hiring a Piano Mover for a Local Move
217
1
Interstate, Long-Distance, and Household Moves
218
1
International Moving
219
1
Storage
220
1
The Effects of Moving and Storage
221
1
A Beginner's Guide to Piano Care
222
13
Tuning
222
2
What Is Tuning?
222
1
Why Do Pianos Go Out of Tune?
222
1
How Often and When Should I Have My Piano Tuned?
223
1
Humidity and Pianos
224
4
Relative Humidity
225
1
Where to Place the Piano
225
1
Temperature
226
1
Humidifiers and Climate Control Systems
226
2
Other Kinds of Piano Service
228
1
Cleaning and Polishing
228
1
Action Regulating
228
1
Voicing
229
1
Room Acoustics
229
1
The Piano Technician
230
2
The Long-Range Outlook
232
1
Additional Resources
232
3
Quiet Keys™
232
1
The Stanwood Precision TouchDesign™ System
233
1
Magnetic Balanced Action
233
1
Reduced Size Keyboard For Small Hands
233
1
Mail-Order Sources For Piano Accessories
234
1
Piano & Keyboard Magazine
234
1
Glossary/Index
235