On Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 5:23 AM, Ed Foote <a440a at aol.com> wrote:
> Ron writes:
>
> >>Strikes me as a lot of blood wasted yet again. Isn't "furniture" the
> "F" word in the keyboard instrument professional's vocabulary?
>
> "F" is for finances. Being professional means money, and many
> customer$ see the piano as musical furniture. The real pianists place the
> emphasis on action and tone, but most pianos are not owned by such persons.
> It is harder to sell a fine piano with a rough case than it is to sell a
> beautifully finished, flat-board, worn out, rosewood relic.
> We ignore the cosmetic at our own loss, since owners can usually be
> sold a refinishing job before a new soundboard. They may only play the
> piano once a week, but they see it in the living room every day, and will be
> inclined to have its appearance match the rest of the furnishings. So, the
> technician, if inclined, can make almost as much with a touch-up kit as they
> can with a tuning fork. I heard an older tech once say that he could make
> more with his vacuum cleaner than with his hammer.
>
> I wish I was asked about voicing as often as I am about polish.........
> Regards,
> Ed Foote RPT
>
>
Several years ago, a middle school I tune for had a small old Howard grand.
The techer wouldn't give it up, even though a studio would have played,
sounded & fit the room better.
At the time My shop wasn't done so I had it rebuilt but NOT refinished. It
was a classroom piano mahogany & any new finish would have been subject to
belt buckles, jean rivets, purses, books & sundry other items of abuse.
The following year the business manager was new, put the tuning for the
district out on bids & I lost out. The next year, when the newest biz
manager couldn't find him he called me, it took them 3 years to get their
piano back, that same little grand. he'd talked them into rebuilding it(?)&
refinishing it, a nice ebony!!!! It didn't take long for it to look terrible
as I had predicted & it was replaced with a P-22 as I had first suggested a
few thousand dollars & 4 years prior.
Mike
--
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without
accepting it.
Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)
Michael Magness
Magness Piano Service
608-786-4404
www.IFixPianos.com
email mike at ifixpianos.com
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