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After graduating and spending three years as a music director for
a small church, Gary opened a teaching studio in Sacramento in 1978.
Growing tired of working in a machine shop, Kirk was drawn to piano
rebuilding after a chance encounter with noted piano rebuilder,
Paul Magee. It was Kirk's interest in piano restoration that brought
the two brothers together in a business venture. In 1979, they opened
a 750 square foot showroom in Nevada City, California and began
Burgett Pianos.
In 1984, Burgett Pianos secured the Marantz
Pianocorder franchise and sales for that company took off. For the
next five years, the Burgetts worked home shows, designer showcases,
major retailers, and local fairs. And their work paid off —
sales rose from 50 pianos per year to over 400.
In 1987, Marantz's Pianocorder Division
was acquired by Yamaha, but Yamaha discontinued sales of the digital
cassette-driven player piano one month later. Within days of the
Yamaha announcement, the brothers made the decision to manufacture
their own computer-driven player piano.
In 1988, at the Atlanta NAMM show, PianoDisc
displayed the PDS-1000, its first computer-driven player piano.
Dealers gave the PDS-1000 rave reviews, and in three days PianoDisc
signed up 80 dealers and secured orders for over 100 units.
The PianoDisc system consists of a small
disk player that is installed under the keybed of a grand or vertical
piano. Three companion computers drive the 88 solenoids, read the
note data, and operate a record strip. PianoDisc's patented record
strip enables the player to record a performance on a 3.5"
computer diskette. When the system is switched to "Play",
it reads the disk and sends out a signal to each solenoid, faithfully
recreating every nuance of the original performance.
Effectively selling the PianoDisc reproducing
system required a substantial software library. Faced with pressing
deadlines for the release of a music disk library that coincided
with the release of the PianoDisc system, the company placed classified
advertisements in music magazines seeking sample tapes and sequences
from performers. The response was phenomenal, and the material received
was quickly translated for use with the PianoDisc System.
Today, the company is expanding its library
on a daily basis with the help of top entertainers. Performances
are recorded at the PianoDisc studio in Sacramento, California and
edited by a staff of music editors.
(Condensed from the November
1992 Issue of The Music Trades.)
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