Ïs there any way to convince the Stones to use a real piano instead of a keyboard-piano? Cause that would really be great and benefit their sound, as well in studio as on stage!

For example (and this one is really obvious for no real music lovers):
Listen to Loving Cup on Exile and Shine A Light.

And I hate that "pling pling" sound of the piano... for example Champagne And Reefer.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-08-03 00:00 by Muddyw.

Yeah, would sound better, but ain't it much more difficult to move around and keep in tune?

That is possible. But how did they do that till 1982?
And surely they can affort to hire a piano tuner?

I actually liked Chuck with the real piano especially on Street Fighting Man from Stripped. It would've sounded terrible if he had his regular keyboard for that outro. It was a nice climax for the song...

Well, that's also my point: Chuck really has his moments with his keyboard. On some songs it works. But with the blues and rock 'n' roll songs you really need a piano, no keyboard. The piano on Street Fighting Man from Stripped is indeed great.

Another example: The intro to This Place Is Empty. I think it should have been a piano, that would be more charming. Now it sounds cheap.

Quote
Muddyw
That is possible. But how did they do that till 1982?
And surely they can affort to hire a piano tuner?

Well, if Chuck is contracted by the Stones, then perhaps he owns his equipment and is directly responsible for it.
If that's the case, then he may just be keeping things simple for himself.
Or I could be totally wrong.

Ian McLagan talks in All the Rage about having a contract with Steinway (I think that was the piano-maker) and they were responsible for having a specific type of Steinway at each location when he arrived.

Moving a piano is REALLY hard on the piano - not just keeping it in tune, but on the hardware too.

Of course, but they could hire a piano locally where they perform that night.

If Elton John, Little Richard & Billy Joel can afford a proper piano at every gig then I'm sure the Stones can too...

>> Ian McLagan talks in All the Rage about having a contract with ... <<

actually the contract wasn't with Steinway - it was in Mac's contract that each local promoter
had to provide a Steinway piano, otherwise he was entitled to smash whatever they did provide.
he relates that one promoter supplied a Steinweg, which he duly smashed ... and then found out
that that was a very early name for a Steinway. live & learn, eh Mac?! :E

Quote
with sssoul
>> Ian McLagan talks in All the Rage about having a contract with ... <<

actually the contract wasn't with Steinway - it was in Mac's contract that each local promoter
had to provide a Steinway piano, otherwise he was entitled to smash whatever they did provide.
he relates that one promoter supplied a Steinweg, which he duly smashed ... and then found out
that that was a very early name for a Steinway. live & learn, eh Mac?! :E

Ouch... I believe Steinways don't come cheap.

Quote
Britney

Quote
with sssoul
>> Ian McLagan talks in All the Rage about having a contract with ... <<

actually the contract wasn't with Steinway - it was in Mac's contract that each local promoter
had to provide a Steinway piano, otherwise he was entitled to smash whatever they did provide.
he relates that one promoter supplied a Steinweg, which he duly smashed ... and then found out
that that was a very early name for a Steinway. live & learn, eh Mac?! :E

Ouch... I believe Steinways don't come cheap.

Well, no Grand Piano comes cheap, but that one would be a rare vintage Stein-way/weg. yikes!
that was probably Mac's biggest mistake.
Weg to way, is the direct translation from german to english.
The Steinweg family changed their name to Steinway in 1851 when they moved from Seesen, Germany to New York.

Some reasons for Chuck not using grand pianos on stage could be:
he's not in the spotlight of the music - the Stones are a guitar driven band (unlike Elton John).
Grand pianos are more or less a one-trick-pony (best sounding, no doubt) but Chuck has to provide quite a variety of keyboard sounds.
they take up a lot of space and are very vulnarable to transportation.
they're not easy to mike-up and get the proper sound across (much longer sound-checks)
There's a reputation war between the grand piano makers going on, ever since.
Mac maybe have been a victim of just that.
[query.nytimes.com]
not the worst idea to keep out of that.

it wouldn't have to be a grand piano, an upright would do.

Quote
with sssoul
>> Ian McLagan talks in All the Rage about having a contract with ... <<

actually the contract wasn't with Steinway - it was in Mac's contract that each local promoter
had to provide a Steinway piano, otherwise he was entitled to smash whatever they did provide.
he relates that one promoter supplied a Steinweg, which he duly smashed ... and then found out
that that was a very early name for a Steinway. live & learn, eh Mac?! :E

Thanks for the clarification - I need to reread All the Rage!

Maybe it is logistical thing. How many people are in the touring band now, 13?

You wouldn't need a "real" piano these days to get the right vibe. Just the right synthesized model on the keybooard... and the right notes played on it with the right attitude !

I disagree: With rock'n'roll a real piano must be used!

Quote
Muddyw
I disagree: With rock'n'roll a real piano must be used!

I'm with you 100% Mud.

I can understand the conveniences of an electronic keyboard, i.e., easier to take on the road, easier to amplify, occupies less space on stage, fewer tuning hassles, etc. However, there's just something about the touch and sensitivity of an acoustic piano that no electronic one can approach.

An acoustic piano is a percussion instrument. How hard one hits the keys affects how hard the hammers hit the strings inside the piano. On an electric, however, one pretty much just plays notes. Electrics don't have anywhere near the same touch sensitivity.

The difference between the two instruments was made painfully clear at last year's Elvis Costello and the Imposters show at the 930 Club in DC. When Allen Toussaint came out for a guest spot at the end of the show, he had to play Steve Nieve's electronic piano, instead of his usual acoustic grand piano. There was a choppiness to his playing that he NEVER has on an acoustic piano.

Paul McCartney - that light-up one. Is it real?

[thepowergoats.com]

Quote
baxlap
I can understand the conveniences of an electronic keyboard, i.e., easier to take on the road, easier to amplify, occupies less space on stage, fewer tuning hassles, etc. However, there's just something about the touch and sensitivity of an acoustic piano that no electronic one can approach.

An acoustic piano is a percussion instrument. How hard one hits the keys affects how hard the hammers hit the strings inside the piano. On an electric, however, one pretty much just plays notes. Electrics don't have anywhere near the same touch sensitivity.

The difference between the two instruments was made painfully clear at last year's Elvis Costello and the Imposters show at the 930 Club in DC. When Allen Toussaint came out for a guest spot at the end of the show, he had to play Steve Nieve's electronic piano, instead of his usual acoustic grand piano. There was a choppiness to his playing that he NEVER has on an acoustic piano.

The touch and sensitivity is not needed at a Rolling Stones concert.
the dynamics that are left at loud r'n'roll gigs [ABB] -
can be handled with digital keyboards of nowadays. not in the past, mind you.
They've come a long way.

On the last tour there has been no song where an acoustic grand piano would have made a significant difference to the digital one,
It ain't Tchaikowsky - or if so , tell him the news.

Elvis Costello? haven't seen him once, but I love quite a few of his records that I have.
He plays smaller venues, doesn't he?