to master or not to master

[Frank Cahill]

Dmsaerts wrote:
> 
> To the list of piano technicians who master their skill,
> AS long as "repairing" a sound board with epoxy, gluing the tuning pins with
> CA, voicing the hammers with Lipton tea are standard respected technicians
> skills.  It doesn't matter what you put behind your name. A technician that
> respects his or her profession repairs and is able to repair sound board with
> sound board, tuning pins with tuning pins, pin block with pin block, bushing
> with bushing, sticking center pin with non sticking center pin, hammers with
> hammers, tuning with ears, voicing with needles (some manufacturers in their
> inability to make good hammers made us believe that lacquer creates a better
> tone, therefore lacquer is an unfortunate skill necessary for those pianos)
> The practice of quick fixing with materials not original to the piano don't
> require the specific skills of a piano technician. In my opinion the point of
> having an organized guild is to protect and instruct an old skill and being a
> watch dog and aid to the manufacturing industry. Let me give an example of the
> watch dog function. When Steinway introduced Teflon it first appeared to be a
> good innovation. But when it was not accepted by their own factory in Hamburg
> and numerous problems were reported within the first two years of it's
> introduction in the US, the PTG should have rang the alarm bell at the door
> steps of the NY factory.  Twenty years later?  Send your bike to the piano
> technician and he will make it fly.
> 
> Cyrillus Aerts I.P.T. (independent piano technician)
> University of North Texas
> 
> p.s. Frans deze is voor jou en de mazzel.


I'd like to be able to fix tuning pins with tuning pins and other such
proper repairs. But no one I've met is willing to spend hundreds of
bucks on a 40 yr old spinet because it won't hold a tune.  But they will
spend $100 to treat the pins with CA glue.  

Many times I've fixed an old clunker in the cheapest possible manner
because that's all the owner's could afford.  To me, if if means a child
can play the piano, then I have done a good job...nothing to be ashamed
of. Make a kid happy, then nothing else matters!

In a university setting, I suspect there is $$ set aside for repairs.  
Not always and maybe not alot.  But most of my clients are homeowners. 
Some have very nice pianos...most do not.  Most do not budget for piano
repairs. So when I tell them a repairs will be even $150, they are
really shocked and decline the repair.  If I then offer a cheaper
alternative, they often take it.  I point out the disadvantages of their
choice, but perform the work.  I make money and the customer is happy.

Of course, this does not help me build my skills.  But I know I'm not
the only one doing this kind of work.  But sometimes it pays off.  I've
had customers dump that 30 yr old spinet and upgrade to a grand.  I'm
still their tuner.

Maybe someday all my clients will be serious pianists and have high end
grands..I doubt it.  For now, I am making an honest living by working on
junk. Gee, there is even a monthly article in the PTG journel on
servicing this kind of piano.

Now, as far as using scopes to tune...well, I am a former electrical
engineer. I'm comfortable with electronic test equipment.  So, I use an
acutuner.  But I also have received help from RPTs on how to use the
device properly.  I use it mostly in manual mode and measure interval
widths.  Mike Travis describes this in the PTG exam guide for tuning. 
Mike is a very respected tuner who uses an acutuner, so I don't feel I
shortchange the customer by using his method to tune pianos.  I have had
countless numbers of people say "you sure do a thorough job." We will
never agree on VTDs, but that's ok.  

Mostly, however, I think you are correct.  If ALL I do is treat pins
with CA glue, I never advance. This is why PTG has exams.  I've passed
the first exam and plan to continue. But reality tells me I may never
replace pin blocks or sound boards.  I'm lucky to do more than a few
regulations a year.  Despite the reality, I am thankful to the PTG and
local techs like Sam Powell, Mike Travis, Wes Lesher, Dave Lamoreaux,
and Joyce Meekins who have answered countless questions.


-- 

Frank Cahill
Associate Member
Northern Va