Can I do some repair ?

[Farrell]

I can imagine all sort of situations where something of this nature would have poor (or worse) results. That being said, a few times I have done this with great results. IMHO, much of our expertise-level work is deciding what is the appropriate maintenance/repair/etc., once a mechanically or arts-and-crafts oriented piano owner is shown how to do a particular task on a couple notes, they can do the remaining 86 notes. Again, one would need to pick the tasks and the piano owner carefully  - and realize everything could still blow up in your face - but the few times I've done this, all has worked out quite well for me and the owner.

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: joel a. jones 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 11:49 AM
  Subject: Can I do some repair ?


  List, 

  Situation: Recently retired professional. Has plenty of time, and claims to be an amateur wood worker. Sold their house and are moving. Time to fix the piano or..... I give him an estimate for 
  the repair. As we talked he asked if there were things he could do as this was of interest to him. 

  Can I do some repair and save some money??????? 

  Glimpsing his copy of Reblitz I answered I charge XXX an hour if you help. He said GREAT ! Many hours later and twice the amount I quoted he was still saying GREAT ! 

  1. He found that the regulation, cleaning was time consuming and very refined. 

  2. He found a new respect for what was involved in the repair of his piano, and the skill
  I have developed over the years in my profession. 

  3. It is now HIS piano and he is proud of his accomplishment. He has a big investment in that 
  piano, and the education was worth the price to him.

  I took a great leap of faith with this customer, and I'm glad I followed my intuiation. 
  Anybody have this type of experience? 


  Joel Jones, RPT
  Madison, WI 
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