[CAUT] unusual repair

[David Porritt]

I keep a set of spare strings for Ms, Ls & Bs though I don't have a
replacement set for a D.  We have another D I could rob in the extreme
emergency.  I've had these spare strings for 20 years so I'd have to guess
that some really are 20 years old.  They sound fine when I put them on.
About once a month I order replacements for the ones I've had to use that
month so I can keep the sets complete.  We have way too many broken strings
not to have replacements.  

 

dp

 

____________________

David M. Porritt, RPT

dporritt at smu.edu

  _____  

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Jeff
Tanner
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 2:51 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] unusual repair

 

 

On Feb 23, 2007, at 2:34 PM, Willem Blees wrote:





Isn't that a lot like saying, "I haven't had a fire since I moved

here, so I

see no need for a local fire station?"

 

We have 4 D's in the school. One piano is 4 years old, I've replaced 

one set three years ago, and another was rebuilt about 10 years ago. 

The "old" Steinway is 30 years old, with original strings, and the 

only reason one broke is because I replace the tuning pin. If there 

was a constant need, even once a year, to replace one or more strings 

on these pianos, I could see having a replacement set around. It's not 

the same as "I've hadn't needed one for ever...", as we do have a back 

up piano for the concert hall. 

 

I'll play devil's advocate.

 

The concept of insurance is to invest a little money into a pool to cover
the risk of a larger financial loss, in these examples, fire or one broken
string. That way, you don't have to save enough money to rebuild your house
if something happens. You don't build a firehouse for one house, you build
it for a community. Having spare strings around is insurance. But paying for
full sets for every model is like building a firehouse for every house.

 

We have a set of strings for a D here under the cabinet. I understand
they've been here since the mid 1970's. My predecessor used two out of it,
just because they happened to be here. Otherwise, he usually just
substituted universals on other pianos. But in over 30 years, we've needed
to use two strings out of that set under the cabinet for any of our 4 Ds.
That set is now up to $195. That's pretty expensive insurance for one broken
string if you ask me.

 

I know universals are awful. But they aren't intended for long term
replacement and they're a lot less expensive to keep around for emergency
situations than full sets for every piano in the inventory. That's what
they're for. Then you order the string you need fresh. It will be here in
two or three days. Everything will be fine.

 

Insurance.

 

I guess when you aren't accustomed to having much budget to work with, you
learn to spend it more frugally.

 

Jeff

 

Jeff Tanner, RPT

University of South Carolina

 





 

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