It's Gonna Be Good..slightly OT

[larudee@pacbell.net]

Terry,

How long did this visit take, and considering how much you made off the sale of
the string, how does that work out as a hourly rate?

Farrell wrote:

> My instructions simply included that warning that significant training is
> required to know how to cut the wire, customize the wrap length, etc. and
> that someone with training and experience should do this. She says her
> friend "know-how-to-fix-piano".
>
> They came by - husband, wife, and cute little daughter. Spoke broken
> english - recently off the boat from Asia somewhere. Very nice people. Man
> was pretty slick. Impressed me. To figure diameter, he measured the
> circumference of the two adjacent strings (missing string is monocord) with
> a piece of paper rolled around the strings. He then measured the paper, and
> converted from millimeters to inches for me. The note was G1, and he came up
> with 0.189" and 0.169" for the two adjacent strings. Not knowing my sizes
> right off, I went to a spinet in my shop (their piano is a console I think)
> and measured the diameter of G1 - 0.185". I told him I had to question the
> accuracy of his measurements, but that they did indeed seem to be close to
> what might be expected. I sold him a universal of 0.179" diameter. Maybe his
> measurements are good. Pretty impressive that the lower string came out
> bigger than the upper one.
>
> I have to admit that I did consider saying no to selling the string. But I
> had sold treble strings to a chainsaw repair place (for cleaning fuel
> lines), felt to a sports clothes embroidery place (for some sewing machine
> oiling thingee), etc., etc. First time for everything and I guess I feel
> that I learn more if I just go for something. I do realize this one may have
> a few pitfalls awaiting! We'll see!
>
> They just bought the piano and know it needs tuning. Why they didn't just
> have me stick it in when I go there to tune is beyond me. Perhaps her friend
> will tune it for her. We'll just have to wait and see.
>
> Terry Farrell
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Phil Bondi" <tito@PhilBondi.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2001 2:43 PM
> Subject: Re: It's Gonna Be Good..slightly OT
>
> > Are we guessing at the gauge or is she bringing the broken wire with her?
> >
> > There must be a God..I'm agreeing with Wim again..I've sold a few elbows
> > myself to people who knew how to put them or..or so they claimed...I've
> sold
> > a few keytops, too.
> >
> > Terry, are you going to give instructions on how to do this, or are you
> just
> > gonna sell it to the customer?
> >
> > Damn I wish I lived closer....!,
> >
> > Phil
> >
> >
> >