I wish to raise a point...

[Wimblees@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-02-17 22:11:54 EST, you write:

>I feel it is vital to the instruments we service to place them as near A440
>as
>possible.
>In my short history of 7 years and thousands of pianos, most of them in the
>early years were uprights.  I still feel you should not be afraid of these
>ol'
>beasts.  In my history only one plate has cracked and that was after the
>owner
>told me he had dropped it getting it to the location.  I have little string
>breakage and find most can come up in one pass.  I set the pin low first to
>break the rust bond and then bring it up slowly.  If the piano is too bad in
>the rust dept. I sell a restring if possible.  I feel we should not just
>leave
>them all where we find them.  
>
>Ed Tomlinson
>
>


This story line has been bantered around a few times. The Japanese feel a
piano should only last about 25 years before it is replaced. Americans think a
piano should last for ever, or 100 years, which ever comes first. Although I
think 25 is way to short, with a few exception for outstanding quality and
well maintained pianos, anything past 75 years should be considered fodder for
the dump. With this in mind, even thought I will tune an old upright, and make
just a few repairs to make the piano barely functional, I tell customers not
to spend any more money on these pianos, and to start considering a new or
newer used piano. If, by not bringing the piano up to A440,I can help convince
these customers to get rid of the old upright, I have helped them along in
making this decision. 

Willem Blees RPT
St. Louis