String 'em Up, Boys

[tune4u@earthlink.net]

Well, now you've cranked up my anxiety meter about 8 notches. 

The pins on this sucker are under 20 lbs, throughout. The player guy was in
a hurry to finish the piano and deliver it "because he was moving." He's
gone. It does beg the question: What kind of bozo and/or con artist would do
expensive player work on an instrument that needs basic piano restoration
work, first?"

Pickle. Good client with two pianos. Good referral source. Was referred to
me by a concert performer/teacher/client of mine. Don't want to screw this
up, don't want to send him elsewhere, he's already invested much in the
piano, loves having it in the retirement center he owns. Pickle, pickle,
pickle ...

Bass strings sound like they are under a mattress and look like they've been
coated with black lacquer, more than just the usual aging gunk. I know about
letting them down and whacking the crap (literally) out of them, or rolling
and running the knot. But since the block is so completely and evenly worn
out, I thought putting in No. 4's was the reasonable solution. And if you
are going to replace the pins and the strings are cruddy, well it only makes
sense to do the whole job.

The case is already beautifully refurbished. What I could see of bridges and
soundboard appeared okay. Hammers have a lot of felt on them, no deep
grooves, and don't appear to have ever been filed. But now I'm wondering
what those little action centers and butt leathers look like ... 

Oh, dear. Pickle.

Maybe I'll show him your email, explain the facts of life, get him to sign a
"pre-nup" sort of waiver ... 

Whatayathink? If pianos can sense that you aren't a player player, can they
also smell fear?

As to the "when I'm in your area" idea, the piano is located in St. Robert,
MO right off I-44 about an hour northeast of Springfield or two hours
southwest of St. Louis. The customer would probably be very reassured to
have a player pro as part of the team, so to speak, and I know I sure would.

Maybe we could plan a fishing trip or canoe float for you. The Current,
Jack's Fork, Meramec, Big Piney, Black, Roubideux, Big Creek, and many other
crystal clear Ozark river beauties are calling youuuuuu-oo-oo-ioouuuu (to
the tune of "Indian Love Call") ... or lakes: Clearwater, Wappapello (Indian
word, means "smack a couch cushion," I think), Truman, Table Rock (at
BRANSON--see the stars!), and, of course, Lake of the Ozarks is only about
an hour away ... 

Where is your home base? If it's Guam or Saskatchewan, I don't wanna know.

Thanks,

Alan B.
head rest
 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Richard Moody
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:09 AM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Re: String 'em Up, Boys


----- Original Message -----
From: <tune4u@earthlink.net>
To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2003 2:07 PM
Subject: String 'em Up, Boys


> I'm quoting on a total restring, w/new pins, of a 1922 Hamilton
upright with
> original player action (rebuilt, electrified, and working fine).
>
> I've never worked on a player so:

Don't do it unless you have the player piano technician whom the
owner has paid to keep this piano in service come and remove every
thing for you and then of course put it back in when you are done.
"Electrified and working fine" means that if you go there and look
inside and have "never worked on a player" it will never play like
it did before you came. The reason being, player pianos,
especially those that are "rebuilt, electrified and !!!working
fine!!!" sense the presence of a piano technician who doesn't know
about player pianos and choose that moment go fubar.
    Do not even put a roll in, let the owner do it first.

    What is the compelling reason for complete restringing?  Can
it wait 20 years until the player needs major service or
rebuilding again?

    There is a simple remedy for making the old bass strings sound
50% to 70%  of new  without even   removing the bottom pump
bellows but I want $20 bucks in advance for that "consultation".
(thanks Roger) :)

---rm


hmmm maybe I should  not caution but simply offer $30 per hour
phone consultation,,,,after 9:00 pm though.    You would need to
email digital photos.  Better yet wait until I am travelling
through,
your area.
Real time consultation is only $40/ hr.  Real time player work is
$60/hr.   I can remove the whole unit in 10 to 30 minutes
depending on how
close to original the rebuild was.


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