Spinet action removal

[Larry Fisher]

Hiya'll,

Spinet pianos have gotten a bum rap from time to time, and like most lowest
priced items on the market, they will continue to get more wrath from those
who have had displeasure working on them.

There are a few spinets on MY database that have had perty good care and
still tune and play to the customer's satisfaction.  It took the efforts of
the previous techs, as well as I, plus the customer's cooperation ($$$) to
help keep this instrument going.  Perchance, should a part break on this
drop action beast, it would be cost effective to fix the offending piece
than to replace the entire piano.  Our job, as talented, informed, good
looking technicians, is to replace this piece for a fee and do so without
grumbling too loudly.  To reduce the grumbling to a manageable minimum, I
first survey the instrument and look at every area that I will be dealing
with before I bid the job to the customer.  Les Smith reminded me of a few
areas of concern, one being the rubber grommets.  These instruments are
getting to be the age where these grommets are starting to become prone to
crumbling when disturbed.  Providing these are in re-usable shape, I
disconnect each one, and "contain" them with a bungy cord, or a stretchy
elastic cord with hooks on each end.  This keeps them pointing straight up
and next to the hammer rail during removal and reinstallation.  Removing the
keys makes this process grumble free.

Lar

                                    Larry Fisher RPT
   specialist in players, retrofits, and other complicated stuff
      phone 360-256-2999 or email larryf@pacifier.com
         http://www.pacifier.com/~larryf/ (revised 10/96)
           Beau Dahnker pianos work best under water