Hi, Ted! Partial, make-do, band-aid type of repairs on marginal instruments have a way of coming back to haunt the technician. So, if you're faced with a situation where your only option is to reglue the ham- mer felts to their cores, or only replace the old, crumbling brass butt-plates that are actually broken at the moment, or only reglue a few of an entire set of keytops that are coming unglued, I have a suggestion to make. In some way CLEARLY MARK those parts which you have reglued or otherwise repaired. Also identify them on your re- ceipt. Further, bring to the attention of the owner, and also write it down on your receipt, that it is to be expected that the felt on the other hammers will eventually come unglued, too; that other of the old, brass butt plates will break; and that other keytops will come off. That will save you the distinct possibility of getting a call from the piano's owner down the road, where he says: "Ted, those hammer felts you reglued for me have separated AGAIN; or, those brass butt plates you replaced for me, have broken AGAIN; or those keytops you reglued for me have come loose AGAIN. Clearly identify those parts you have repaired. Or, as Newton would say, CYA! Les Smith lessmith@buffnet.net
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