[pianotech] very old pianos

[Marc Lanthier (Piano Lanco)]

Terry,
 
I said "repair". I did not mention tuning, pitch raises, replacing a broken
string or two, a missing damper felt, sticky note etc...
 
BTW my charge for a pitch raise, tuning and basic regulation such as
let-off, backchecks and loose hammer butt screws is nowhere near $500.
 
Sometimes, all they want is to get the piano working again. I tell them that
the additional required repairs can be done in stages.
 
As for family heirlooms, we might evaluate the "worth" on the used market as
$200 but their piano's "worth" is way above that. Case by case is the way to
go.
 
Thanks
 
 

    
PIANO LANCO
Marc Lanthier
514-770-7438
1-877-PIANO10
info at pianolanco.com
www.pianolanco.com  <http://www.pianolanco.com/> 

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Farrell
Sent: January 29, 2009 8:30 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] very old pianos


"I never refuse to work on a piano unless the cost of repair is way beyond
the worth of the instrument..."
 
So if a customer has an old upright with a beat-up plain case but the
mechanics of the piano are in surprisingly good condition, you'd refuse to
do a pitch raise, tuning, and a basic regulation - easily $500 worth of work
on a $200 piano - family heirloom and all that....?
 
I'm not trying to pick your post apart Marc, but a lot of piano owners and
newbie techs read this forum and I think sometimes they can take what
appears in this forum a little too verbatim. I do agree that your statement
has merit - just that there can be numerous exceptions.
 
Terry Farrell
 
----- Original Message ----- 
> Here in Montreal, a very large quantity of pianos are 100 years old. I
never
> refuse to work on a piano unless the cost of repair is way beyond the
worth
> of the instrument or the budget is too limited.
> 
> I don't get it, we're piano technicians - why would you refuse to do your
> job? Sure some pianos are a charm to work on and some are hell, but that's
> what makes it challenging. Also, you get a good reputation and decent
money
> if you do good work. Just charge accordingly.
>     
> Marc Lanthier

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