Of note:
I just noticed a bunch of “acoustic-lovers” (elsewhere) complaining about ‘the state of the acoustic,’ and the lack of innovation afflicting it.
These are hardcore, acoustic enthusiasts and they’re not happy, so imagine the rest of the ‘normal’ world (most average Joes).
I believe it’s the catch-22 effect at play: there’s no innovation due to lack of demand, and lack of demand for lack of innovation.
On the one hand I hate Steinway, but on the other, how can we expect them to innovate if very few people are buying their product? Imagine if there’d be very little demand for the iPhone whence it appeared on the scene circa 2007? One of two things would’ve happened: either It disappeared, and with it the “smartphone industry,” or it would’ve stuck around unnoticed; still fashioning tech from 2007!
The latter is more-or-less what happened with the acoustic: lack of interest/demand has left it stuck in the 1800s; granted, the acoustic had a decent start in terms of demand, but those were different times; whence entire families gathered around the piano for a night of fun, but today’s proverbial family prefers gathering around the couch to binge on Loki (sorry, but that’s the truth).
Would I buy an acoustic? Well, if I had lots of money, a huge house all to myself, and my neighbors lived at least one mile away from me, maybe?
If I could simply leave the door unlocked for the tuner to show up, do his thing, accept Venmo, didn’t talk to me nor made eye contact, and basically didn’t even know my real name, “Hi, I’m Joe Shmo,” then maybe, just maybe I’d buy an acoustic; however, this is a very unlikely -perfect- scenario…..
“Demand drives innovation,” they say, and perhaps there’s some truth to that, and it is no longer a matter of whether some people believe the acoustic superior; because considering the acoustic’s current state of affairs this is a moot point as it relates to the future of the acoustic, which, once again, is nonexistent; heck I’m surprised it’s still hanging around. Are these people being subsidized? I genuinely don’t understand how they can make it work (the finances), never mind health insurance for their aging employees, or do you know of any millennials eagerly training for their dream profession? “Steinway Piano Technician.”
P.S.
If a close & beloved relative asked for advice on pursuing his/her lifelong dream of owning a piano dealership, would you have the guts to look him/her/it in the eye and say, “No! don’t do it, Joe/Jane,” or would you lie to his/her face, “That’s a great idea, go for your dream”? (This is a rhetorical, but if you decide to answer, I ask that you be honest!
