> > Hello List > > It's a funny thing how often I find myself likening something to do with > > pianos to something to do with cars. Why is this I wonder? At least it's >not > > Religion or Politics! > > Regards from a darkening Sussex > > Michael G (UK) T.G.I.F. > > Oh, Michael, This is too easy. Many and varied are the links/comparisons which can be made. - Cars and pianos are in the same price ranges - both new and used - There have been so many makes and models made over the years that making a good decision concerning the purchase of a used or antique one requires the inspection/assessment of same by a qualified mechanic/technician. - Both are complex mechanical devices which give their owners great pleasure when they are running right, great frustration if they are not and require experts to service either correctly. - most people have some basic idea of how a car works and have dealt with maintenance issues. Making valid comparisons helps the customer relate to the piano and it's maintenance. - when a piano needs to have hammers replaced, it is easy to compare with getting new ti(y)res. When they want to put new hammers on a moribund piano you can point out how long tires last on a car that won't start or transmission is shot. - action work is like a transmission adjustment or overhaul, depending on the extent of work required. - when the customer asks if it is worth rebuilding/refinishing their Naugawurlie/Lindner/Winter, you can compare that to restoring a Yugo/Fiat 1100/Rambler. You surely could improve on the original a little, but it'll never be a Packard/Jaguar/Bentley. - I don't play the piano very well. When people ask how I can work on pianos but not play well, I say that I'm like a race car mechanic. I may be able to drive the thing around the track, but my job is to prepare the car so that the driver can race it. After the driver takes a lap or two and comes back making this or that comment, I can tweak the beastie to do what the driver needs (or say why something _can't_ be done ;-). Etc., etc., etc.... Others on this list could surely add many similar similies. Regards from the cornfields of Iowa, sleeping under a fresh blanket of snow. Conrad Hoffsommer Decorah, IA - Certified Calibration Technician for Bio-powered Digitally Activated Lever Action Tone Generation Systems. - Pianotech Flamesuit Purveyor - Apprentice Curmudgeon
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