Same reason they buy little Johnny an $89 guitar at Wal-Mart. Of course the child loses interest in an instrument NO ONE can play comfortably and make good music on. So when he quits the parents breath a sigh of relief that they didn't actually pay the amount what's required for a decent instrument! Isn't it great when they buy an old upright, spend a fortune in time and materials to repair and refinish the case, THEN call the tech to "tune it"!?! I have now had two instances of this. One was a gorgeous 1890's Victorian. In both cases I found the guts totally shot, brittle, worn out, rotten, etc. I charged for the service calls, just to add insult to their injury, but I sure don't like those calls. Alan Barnard Salem, MO -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Farrell Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 11:54 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Why Do They Do It? Just got a call - new client, tune piano. When was it last tuned? Don't know - just bought it at Goodwill. Is it a tall, old upright? Yes, its about five feet tall. Can you play me middle C over the phone? Yes, hear that? (I hear at least two distinct notes being sounded) How about trying D, one white note above C? OK. Thanks, that sounds about a half-note flat - the piano will need a pitch raise also to get it up to standard pitch. (And likely about two gallons of CA.) Where do you live? Bla, bla street. Yes, I know exactly where that is. Indeed, I know where that is. Brand new subdivision. Not a home there less than $300,000 - some quite a bit more. A piano from Goodwill in this home? Often even worse is same type of situation and parents buy a worn out 1948 Gulbransen spinet for little Susie. Arrrrrggggggggggg! Sorry, just venting. Terry Farrell _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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