The next big problem on the horizon for the piano is that piano technicians are also a dying breed. Sure, you can get someone to tune it, but that's fairly easy to do myself. The problem comes when a damper is stuck, some notes need voicing, etc. Even the old geezers that know how to do this stuff don't want to bother. They just want to come to your house, do an electronic tuning, and leave with $140.
Even if you're able to spend obscene amounts of money on a fantastic grand, who wants to do that if there's no way to maintain it?
Reckon you're right about piano tuners/techs being a dying breed. I used to know a tuner who both tuned and repaired concert grands (in fact I occasionally used to watch him work). He sent his son (who eventually followed in his footsteps) to train at Steinway and even then he didn't reckon his son was good enough to do the top league without lots more experience.
These days, most people haven't the patience to acquire hands-on skills to that depth.
yeah, the last person i knew who tuned by ear died probably 5 or 6 years ago now and i haven't found anyone who hits the same sound. the same electronic cut-and-paste approach does not seem to be quite as good across every single piano. don't get me wrong, it's very good, just tiny differences spotted because i knew the piano's sound when tuned by ear very well beforehand.
That was already a big problem in 1995 [1] for concert pianists. I wonder if it is now worse, better, or about the same as it was when that essay was written?
you have this service done once in how long? and you call the technician rude names and complain, yet you pay that much for four visits to the gas station,
casual indifference, disrespect and basically stupid accounting on your part
Even if you're able to spend obscene amounts of money on a fantastic grand, who wants to do that if there's no way to maintain it?