(no subject)

[Isaac OLEG]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
Hello Mary,

Unless I work for a customer I know well, I am getting paid (I try anyway !)
for consulting and making the proposal actually.The cost of these is to be
deducted in case of realization.
In a school environment it is useless to do proposals for repairs without
follow ups and regular maintenance. Seem to me that is the good moment to
explain what they will get , and that nothing is definitive. I include in
the proposal a few words that say that considering the existing budgets, I
only can guarantee that I will keep their instrument so they can play on it,
(and do the best I can about it) , but that the piano is evolving
permanently, so no repair is giving some sort of stability in the state of
the instrument. In less words, the repair allow for the maintenance to be
made regularly ...

You can also show that some parts are to be changed because of lack of
maintenance - it is always the case in my opinion for the rollers, so you
have to change the shanks and the cheaper repair is not possible (heads
only). it is also the case for the strings if the hammers are worn.

Generally the customer will not understand (or believe)  the whole point,
that is why it is useful to say it again and again.
I am on the process to send a letter monthly, remaining that the pianos have
to be checked, and that they are going bad. I send that to all music schools
and to their headquarters, and, most important, to the place where they get
the money to buy instruments (the town actually).

On the other hand I second Wim's advice, or is it time to find a partnership
? The number of errors you can possibly do on the first jobs on these
instruments is such that if you go on, the customer is certainly yet lost
and your reputation is in danger.(sorry for the way it is said, my English
is little).

Best Regards.

 and good luck

PS I'd go for new shanks of course unless the piano is fairly recent 5-10
years, and even then, but after that it is also a money consideration.







Isaac OLEG

Entretien et réparation de pianos.

PianoTech
17 rue de Choisy
94400 VITRY sur SEINE
FRANCE
tel : 033 01 47 18 06 98
fax : 033 01 47 18 06 90
cell: 06 60 42 58 77

  -----Message d'origine-----
  De : pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]De la
part de Greg Newell
  Envoyé : vendredi 2 mai 2003 05:07
  À : Pianotech
  Objet : Re: (no subject)


  At 09:25 PM 5/1/2003, you wrote:


    I am working with a customer who uses their piano for teaching and
recitals.I have recommended a new pinblock, new strings,dampers,new shanks
and flanges.

    What effect do worn hammers (filed almost to the wood in the treble
section) have on touch and tone in a Steinway grand piano?


  Well, I'm tempted to say not a lot because the S7S hammer is supposed to
be jucied up until it's much like wood and the voiced (needled) down from
there. This was from John Patton (?) at Steinway. Nevertheless, no meat left
cannot possibly give good controllable sound.



    When replacing a set of hammers would you also replace the shanks and
flanges?


  Most definitely unless, of course, you don't care what the regulation
comes out like.



    The tuning pins have been replaced with 6/0 pins.The torque is from 20
inch pounds and jumping in the bass to 60 inch pounds in the treble.the
torque is uneven.

    There students are advanced and require a good touch and tone.I need to
present this to a committee please help with your coments and suggestions.


  This part is very important. DO NOT submit a proposal if you can avoid it
and instead present your ideas to the committee in person. You can't
possibly depend on someone else to impart all that you want to say through
their lips. It NEVER works that way. Have something written out but only
provide it once you have a positive answer from them. If you give them a
proposal they use that info to shop around on you making you an unpaid
consultant. Find what their major complaints are. Let them talk about how
bad it bugs them a bit and then offer, verbally, solutions after (AFTER) you
have a sense for whether they are willing to put forth the money to do
something about it. DON'T be an unpaid consultant! You may become their hero
and their "go to" person when they need advice but they'll always find
someone to do the job cheaper.

  my 2 cents



    Thank you

    ---

    Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
    Version: 6.0.474 / Virus Database: 272 - Release Date: 4/18/2003
  Greg Newell
  Greg's piano Forté
  mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/15/62/6b/5a/attachment.htm

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--