[pianotech] pianotech Digest, Vol 8, Issue 186

robert wall robertemmett.w at gmail.com
Sun Jun 21 10:13:44 MDT 2009


One of the first dealerships I worked for back in  78, told me C.
O.D. meant cash on the barrel head, to this day I still don' have any idea
of what he he was saying although I can say it was one of his more
magnanimous statements.What a despot!
Robert E. Wall   robertemmett.w at gmail.com
On Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 10:27 PM, <pianotech-request at ptg.org> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: Cash!! (David Ilvedson)
>   2. Steinway Style 2 (Clark Sprague)
>   3. Re: Calling all Chemists (Greg Newell)
>   4. reamer for damper lever top flange (J Patrick Draine)
>   5. Re: Steinway Style 2 (David Ilvedson)
>   6. Re: reamer for damper lever top flange (Ron Nossaman)
>   7. Re: Dealer labor fees (David Love)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:15:35 -0700
> From: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey at sbcglobal.net>
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Cash!!
> Message-ID: <0015E6EF0612130F232F004008 at David>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="ISO-8859-1"
>
> got to read the fine print..."balance due"
>
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, CA  94044
>
> ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
> From: "Ryan Sowers" <tunerryan at gmail.com>
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Received: 6/18/2009 7:13:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Cash!!
>
>
> >I don't get it. What did you do to justify the $2300?
>
> >On Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 1:43 PM, Richard <richard.ucci at att.net> wrote:
>
> >> Just picked up balance due on an old kimball grand my dealer just
> >> delivered.
> >>
> >> Keys came up off the keypins during transit and the dealer called me in
> a
> >> panic . Fixed the keys and got $2300 in cash...
> >> Drinks are on me dudes.
> >>
> >> Sent from my iPhone
> >>
>
>
>
> >--
> >Ryan Sowers, RPT
> >Puget Sound Chapter
> >Olympia, WA
> >www.pianova.net
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:37:30 -0400
> From: "Clark Sprague" <CSPRAGUE4 at woh.rr.com>
> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Subject: [pianotech] Steinway Style 2
> Message-ID: <38CD67C328E446B59D663425D0F1FFA6 at Shiny>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>        reply-type=original
>
>    List, I went to the house of a man yesterday, who has a Steinway Style
> 2, 7'3" grand for sale.  It needs completely rebuilt.  Pictures are
> available, if desired.
>    The serial number is #33450.  Funny thing is, that someone has changed
> the number in the places that one would know to look (the keyslip, the
> front
> of the action frame, they put it on the open faced pinblock, and on the
> stretcher board above the bass strings, upside down no less), but they
> didn't change the numbers on the inside of the cheek blocks, or on the
> underside of the fallboard.  What they did was add a 1 to the other
> numbers,
> making it look like it is a 1908, when in reality, it is an 1876.  He
> called
> it a Centennial Edition (I really don't know about that, but I could
> envision a very beautiful instrument if re-done well).  As I said, I have
> some pictures available, if anyone wants to see them.
>    Anybody interested in a project?
>
> Clark A. Sprague, RPT
> csprague4 at woh.rr.com
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:46:48 -0400
> From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell at ameritech.net>
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Calling all Chemists
> Message-ID: <021d01c9f088$315bd450$94137cf0$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="UTF-8"
>
> John,
>        This is interesting, and cheap which I particularly like at this
> point. I'll look into this as well as the other offerings. Thanks!
>
> Greg Newell
> Greg's Piano Fort?
> www.gregspianoforte.com
> 216-226-3791 (office)
> 216-470-8634 (mobile)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
> Behalf Of johndelmore at suddenlink.net
> Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:21 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Calling all Chemists
>
> I generally use 6N hydrochloric acid in the lab.  If you don't have a
> source for that, there's a product called "The Works"...it's a toilet bowl
> cleaner (accept no substitute...obviously, not any old bowl cleaner will
> 'work'...), buck and a quarter at Wally-World.  I've used it with good
> results before, but it may need a little soak-time.  If you use either of
> these, rinse well and neutralize with a weak baking soda solution as soon as
> the rust is dissolved.
>
> John
> >
> >
> > On Jun 18, 2009, at 4:14 PM, Greg Newell wrote:
> >
> > > I wonder if any of you might know of a rust neutralizer product. I
> > > have a
> > > bunch of scaffolding that I bought and used for hoisting a piano (A
> > > related
> > > post don?t you know) that has a great deal of surface rust on it.
> > > I?d like
> > > to clean off the rust and paint the scaffolding so that it holds up
> > > better
> > > over the long term. Any suggestions?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Greg Newell
> > > Greg's Piano Fort?
> > > www.gregspianoforte.com
> > > 216-226-3791 (office)
> > > 216-470-8634 (mobile)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:10:29 -0400
> From: J Patrick Draine <jpdraine at gmail.com>
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: [pianotech] reamer for damper lever top flange
> Message-ID:
>        <fdf610640906181710g57fc3a99o762290b283c74502 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hi, I seem to have misplaced the drill bit I use to ream the damper lever
> top flange (that's what they call it in the S&S diagram) so the damper
> wires
> are minimally loose (i.e. not freakin' tight as they are now, which makes
> regulating the dampers a major headache). And I seem to have misplaced the
> nifty handout from Karen Robinson's comprehensive damper class.So what size
> drill bit is appropriate for me to use for this 1922 S&S O, oh damper
> gurus?
> Patrick
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:13:52 -0700
> From: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey at sbcglobal.net>
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Steinway Style 2
> Message-ID: <004B41230612140D341000500A at David>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="ISO-8859-1"
>
> Oh, yeah...let's see the evidence... '-]
>
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, CA  94044
>
> ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
> From: "Clark Sprague" <CSPRAGUE4 at woh.rr.com>
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Received: 6/18/2009 6:37:30 PM
> Subject: [pianotech] Steinway Style 2
>
>
> >    List, I went to the house of a man yesterday, who has a Steinway Style
> >2, 7'3" grand for sale.  It needs completely rebuilt.  Pictures are
> >available, if desired.
> >    The serial number is #33450.  Funny thing is, that someone has changed
> >the number in the places that one would know to look (the keyslip, the
> front
> >of the action frame, they put it on the open faced pinblock, and on the
> >stretcher board above the bass strings, upside down no less), but they
> >didn't change the numbers on the inside of the cheek blocks, or on the
> >underside of the fallboard.  What they did was add a 1 to the other
> numbers,
> >making it look like it is a 1908, when in reality, it is an 1876.  He
> called
> >it a Centennial Edition (I really don't know about that, but I could
> >envision a very beautiful instrument if re-done well).  As I said, I have
> >some pictures available, if anyone wants to see them.
> >    Anybody interested in a project?
>
> >Clark A. Sprague, RPT
> >csprague4 at woh.rr.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:27:36 -0500
> From: Ron Nossaman <rnossaman at cox.net>
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] reamer for damper lever top flange
> Message-ID: <4A3B05A8.1050605 at cox.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> J Patrick Draine wrote:
> > Hi, I seem to have misplaced the drill bit I use to ream the damper
> > lever top flange (that's what they call it in the S&S diagram) so the
> > damper wires are minimally loose (i.e. not freakin' tight as they are
> > now, which makes regulating the dampers a major headache). And I seem to
> > have misplaced the nifty handout from Karen Robinson's comprehensive
> > damper class.
> > So what size drill bit is appropriate for me to use for this 1922 S&S O,
> > oh damper gurus?
> > Patrick
>
> Would we, perhaps, mic the wire and chose a bit size nominally
> larger to
> open the channel?
>
> In the admittedly self interest of avoiding the dreaded
> committee consensus kiss of death, that's where I would (and
> do) go.
>
> Opinions, and instincts, vary.
> Ron N
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:27:00 -0700
> From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Dealer labor fees
> Message-ID: <01cb01c9f08d$ced32990$6c797cb0$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> The issue of "perfect" wasn't really the point.  Putting in half the normal
> time on an appointment and, presumably, compromising the quality of the
> work
> you typically do in order to help the dealer "make money" doesn't serve
> your
> own self interest very well.   Since reputation is everything in this
> business and even one dissatisfied customer can do significant damage to
> your reputation and thereby your business, if you are going to take
> significantly less money from the dealer (unless it's an anonymous floor
> tuning, I suppose) you should do the same quality work as you typically do.
> If you don't feel comfortable with that (and I don't) then don't accept the
> work at drastically reduced prices.  It may serve you imperfectly in the
> long run.
>
>
>
> David Love
>
> www.davidlovepianos.com
>
>
>
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
> Behalf
> Of Ryan Sowers
> Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:11 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Dealer labor fees
>
>
>
> In piano work there is no such thing as "perfect". There are degrees of
> perfection that are appropriate for various situations.
>
> The trick with dealers is to develop trust. If the piano needs extra work
> the dealer trusts that I will take care of the problem quickly and
> efficiently and and charge them a reasonable rate. As long as you have a
> good relationship with them and communicate I haven't had any real
> problems.
>
>
> Of course, not all dealers are equal - just like all technicians are not
> equal. I have refused to work for certain dealers. Fortunately I am lucky
> to
> work with some terrific stores and are able to enjoy a win-win
> relationship.
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 12:37 PM, David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> Remember, however, that less than perfect work that you do reflects on you
> with the customer, not the dealer.  I will routinely discount to the trade
> 10 - 15%, not more.  But never quote a price beforehand.  That simple
> tuning
> has a way of becoming an semi-tone pitch raise.  I don't like walking away
> from a situation feeling a conflict between doing my best work and getting
> paid a reasonable amount.
>
>
>
> David Love
>
> www.davidlovepianos.com
>
>
>
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
> Behalf
> Of Ryan Sowers
> Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:15 AM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Dealer labor fees
>
>
>
> Part of the trick of dealing with dealers is to know how to work quickly
> and
> efficiently. I generally give dealers a 25% discount on my hourly rate, but
> compared to a retail tuning it comes out more like a 50% discount.
>
> My retail appointments take 1.5 to 2 hours whereas my dealer tunings
> usually
> take an hour.
>
> Most dealers don't expect perfect work. They are hiring you to help them
> make money. If you can help them make money they will love you.
>
> On Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 7:03 AM, Richard <richard.ucci at att.net> wrote:
>
> What is % off reg. fees normally for dealer work ?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
>
> --
> Ryan Sowers, RPT
> Puget Sound Chapter
> Olympia, WA
> www.pianova.net
>
>
>
>
> --
> Ryan Sowers, RPT
> Puget Sound Chapter
> Olympia, WA
> www.pianova.net
>
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>
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>
> End of pianotech Digest, Vol 8, Issue 186
> *****************************************
>
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