How do we tell customers that the work done on theirpianosstinks?

[Sarah Fox]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
Hi Terry et al,

Duh!  I hadn't considered the antique car analogy.  And yes, you refine =
the argument well regarding hard parts vs. soft parts.  I would modify =
the argument to "wear-and-tear" parts and "non-wear-and-tear" parts.  =
Wear-and-tear parts are, by definition, intended to be replaced.  They =
are expendable, like tires, belts, and hoses in a car -- or electric =
brushes in motors -- or needles on Victrolas -- or tubes in radios -- or =
paint on an old, Victorian house.  Without the "wear and tear" parts =
being replaced as needed, the antique becomes nonfunctional and =
therefore less valuable.

Automobiles come with a manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule =
-- i.e. when to change belts, hoses, etc.  How about pianos?  Has =
*anyone* drawn up any guidelines as to the average service life of a =
hammer or damper felt?  (If so, I'm sure it's less than 100 years.  This =
piano is 99 years old.)

Anyway, my friend and I will be sending the piano off to said young =
musician before too long.  It will come with my minimal recommendation =
for a set of Ray's hammers, dampers, several new bass strings, a DC =
system, and CA'ing of several problem tuning pins.  I also want to =
recommend a technician in her area -- Los Angeles.  (Sorry it's on the =
other side of the country, Terry!!)  I would do this work myself, except =
that I refuse to touch the piano again, after she got her nose in the =
air that the last tuning wasn't done by a *professional*.  (I thought =
the tuning was pretty good.  The Suzuki violin teachers agreed, as it =
was their favorite in-home piano for accompanying the children during =
lessons and recitals.  Ah well...)  Anyway, who would y'all recommend in =
the Los Angeles area for this piano?

Peace,
Sarah

PS Sentimental value really *is* worth something with this piano.  It's =
the piano on which she learned (second instrument) and started =
composing.  She's bonded with it.  It's a karma thing to her, which is =
understandable.

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Farrell=20
  To: Pianotech=20
  Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 7:02 AM
  Subject: Re: How do we tell customers that the work done on =
theirpianosstinks?


  I run into this quite often. I use the car analogy to describe how =
pianos wear out. I also point out how pianos differ from antique cars =
that are "all original". The reasons a restored 1962 Corvette with all =
original parts and matching serial numbers is worth anything is because =
there are not any cars made like them anymore and mostly because there =
are many car clubs around where folks get together and show off their =
cars, etc., etc.

  A 1902 or a 1962 or a 2002 Steinway or Bechstein or whatever uprights =
or grands don't look a whole lot different from one another. There are =
no piano clubs/magazines, etc. that attracts antique piano collectors, =
etc. An antique piano has no intrinsic value. The only way an "antique" =
piano has any value is usually if Harry Truman or Glenn Gould owned it, =
or maybe if it is very unusual in some unique way.

  Then give them an appraisal of the wholesale value of their piano: =
less than zero. Give them a retail value of their piano: zero to $500 =
depending on cosmetics (does it have all the keytops) and whether all =
the keys work.

  That usually does it. If they still don't believe you, then perhaps =
they just need to hear the same thing from another qualified technician.

  Now you need to focus on these original parts - parts replacement. The =
"all original" restored 1962 Corvette has all its original metal and =
fiberglass parts (not even that actually - it could have a new =
alternator, etc., etc. - just the original "type") but all the =
SOFT/ORGANIC parts have been replaced with new. The seat covers and =
radiator hoses and brake lines are all new - they were not made by =
Chevrolet. The piano is the same way. The "hard parts", i.e. the parts =
that don't wear out or deteriorate on their own can stay - the case, =
plate, frame, keybed, etc. But the SOFT/ORGANIC parts that wear need to =
be replaced if you want it to look/perform like new - hammers, action =
parts, strings (not soft or organic, but you can replace with original =
type), soundboard and whatever.

  Only for a museum restoration is there any reason to try and preserve =
everything in its original state. But keep in mind that is done for =
historical preservation only - not to make something work for everyday =
use.

  If that doesn't work. Walk away - its hopeless!

  BTW, IMHO those old Knabes are among the finest, if not the finest, =
uprights ever built - premium remanufacturing stock! Ya might even want =
to tell her you know someone in the business.......   ;-)

  Terry Farrell

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/34/f2/aa/ae/attachment.htm

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