PTG Helps Prevent Technical Inbreeding

[Ron Overs]

Good post Terry,

Terry Farrell wrote:

>I was dumbfounded that other day when I went to do a pre-purchase inspection
>of a grey market Yamaha G5 the other day. The piano was at one of these
>warehouse wholesalers of grey-market Japanese pianos they import by the
>boat-load. There are about a half-dozen "pie-anna technicians" that seems to
>work there. They have little booths in the warehouse and they "rebuild"
>pianos. Basically, new strings, hammers, and paint. Pianos out in the
>showroom are absolutely HORRIBLE (look great - play and sound horrible).
>
>Anyway, while tuning the G5 a youngish dude walks up to me and asks me about
>the little blue machine I have with the rotating lights. Seems this
>4th-generation piano tuner (about 30 years old) has never even heard of a
>Sanderson AccuTuner. He asked me if I was a Guild member. I said yes. He
>said he had gone to a few meetings but "all they did was talk about the
>neighbors dog and stuff like that - they were all so old and I guess I don't
>have anything in common with them".
>
>Then he showed me his little piano cubby. He proudly showed me the Steinway
>he was installing the plate into. "I just put this soundboard in - another
>tech made it for me - this is the first one we have done here - I'm just
>getting ready to string it." Well, he was in fact installing the plate. The
>original bridge was already glued in place with original notching, original
>dagged top surface, and original bridge pins. So what's he got here? About a
>one-in-a-hundred chance that the bridge will be at ideal elevations for
>downbearing? Maybe one-in-a-thousand?
>
>He also made some mention about "personalities" in the Guild. Golly, every
>organization where people are members has their share of shmucks. I've met a
>couple in PTG that were possibly a little less than perfect! But gosh, what
>a great place full of knowledgeable folks that are willing to share
>information. You get out of an organization what you put into it. Techs like
>this one might be better off paying less attention to an arthritis story and
>ask a few questions about pianos. Like maybe: "I have heard the term 'bridge
>recapping' - what is that?"
>
>My experience with the 4th generation piano technician also brings to mind
>one thing that Randy Potter wrote in his course. That is to be aware of the
>"experienced" technician who has studied under someone that is not well
>trained - pointing out that there is a difference between a tech that has
>thirty years experience and one that has experienced
>first-year-level-knowledge over and over again for thirty years in a row. It
>seems like this kid may be a victim of experience inbreeding. "That's how me
>pappy, grand-pappy, and great-grand-pappy did it - and that's how a I'm a
>gonner do it - I'm a 4th generation Pie-Anna Tuner!"
>
>There is such a wealth of information freely flowing about the PTG that one
>can often consider several ways of approaching a task and then deciding
>which one appears best to you. If it works great, OK, maybe you will try
>another approach next time. But what a rich thing this PTG. What a rich
>thing this Pianotech List.
>
>I'm glad I don't operate in a closet like my poor friend. Thanks Guys & Gals

For someone who hasn't been in this business for long, you seem to be 
contributing quite a bit of useful debate Terry. Well done.

Ron Overs
-- 
Overs Pianos
Sydney Australia
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Web site: http://www.overspianos.com.au
Email:     mailto:ron@overspianos.com.au
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