Larry Fine (pianos)

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Larry Fine (fl. c. 2000) is an American piano technician, consultant, and author. He is best known as the author of The Piano Book.

The Piano Book, as of 2001^[update] in its fourth edition, describes how pianos work, discusses and reviews many brands of pianos, tracks changes in the piano industry worldwide, describes the retail piano industry in America with hints for the buyer on how best to deal with piano stores. It also documents innovations in piano building. The book is written from the viewpoint of the piano technician, and thus often emphasizes aspects of piano quality that make it hard or easy for the technician to keep the instrument in tune and in good working order.

Over the years, the work has been increasingly a collaborative effort, as Fine has a recruited a large number of his fellow technicians to evaluate and report on the pianos that they see in the course of their work.

The book is accompanied by an annual Supplement, which offers updates to tide the book over between major revisions.

[edit] The Piano Book editions

Although similar, a notable difference between editions is the explicit rating and cost of each model of each brand. These are included in the first edition, removed in the second, and replaced in the third "painted in much broader strokes". Also "several brands had to be left out of the second edition to avoid threatened lawsuits". As a result, the first and fourth editions contain unique information.

[edit] See also

Innovations in the piano

[edit] Book

The Piano Book (4th edition 2001; Jamaica Plain, MA: Brookside Press; ISBN 1-929145-01-2).
2007–2008 Annual Supplement to The Piano Book (2007; Jamaica Plain, MA: Brookside Press; ISBN 1-929145-21-7).