What would you do?

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 11/29/99 6:53:20 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
richardb@c2i.net (Richard Brekne) writes:

<< grin.. in an unbelievably long brawl of sicilian baloney... (all in fun 
Bill.:) ) >>

Well, that's my greatest talent, so I hear.  Sometimes I read a little too 
quickly.  I didn't really absorb the part about that piano not having been 
sold yet.  Really, I might very well take the position of most of you and 
decline to work on that piano altogether.  However, there are sometimes 
unusual circumstances.  Perhaps this piano was sold really cheap but was done 
so at the Buyer's risk and that buyer took the chance that it would be OK.

Now there are all the rebuilders who only replace pinblocks in fine grands 
who shudder at the thought of any "Band-Aid" treatment and just couldn't be 
bothered with such a lowly orphan as this.  Ditto the "I only do Steinways" 
guys.  "Send it back"  "Don't touch it".  That's pretty easy to say.  But 
maybe this piano is basically good, just one of those that needs some rather 
major preparation.  You have to be willing to accept that there is a time and 
place for everything, no matter if that "thing you do" is not something that 
you personally would ever do.

So, If I may, I would like to encourage experienced technicians who give 
advice and information to those who are working there way up to avoid the all 
to easy answer unless a good reason is given to specifically not use some 
kind of alternative repair.   You couldn't interest me in doing this kind of 
repair on any "Grand", Jesse French, Poole, or Winter spinet but there might 
be somebody for whom the circumstances are right and I would not discourage 
it.

To do so would encourage that short list into growing to include just about 
every piano ever made.  I once used CA pinblock treatment on a Steinway B 
that had been really butchered.  There was no money to "do it over" and if I 
had not done what I did, the entire symphony chorus and opera rehearsals 
would have had a real problem.  I personally would have been negatively 
affected as a performing musician, to say nothing of my work as a technician. 
 I chose to work through the problems and accomplish *something* instead of 
nothing.  

Granted, what I did might only get another 15 years out of the piano before 
it is worn out again but you could say that about a really good rebuilding 
job on a piano which is heavily used.  What could anybody suppose an easy 
dismissal such as "Tell'em to buy a new one." or "Sue the jerk that did 
that!" would have accomplished? Perhaps in 15 years, they will have the money 
to get a brand new one or at least have it properly restored after accepting 
what that will really cost to do it right.

But in the end, I must wholeheartedly agree, Richard, "Ya gotta know where to 
draw the line!".

Regards,
Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin