<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: [CAUT] back duplex</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> Well = said Mary. Right on the mark. Alan McCoy <HR ALIGN=CENTER SIZE="3" WIDTH="95%">From: Mary Smith <marysmith= @mail.utexas.edu> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org&= gt;" <caut@ptg.org> Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2004 21:00:46 -0600 To: "College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>&qu= ot; <caut@ptg.org> Subject: RE: [CAUT] back duplex Hi Lance, I am going to express myself once again on this sticky topic, at the risk o= f sounding like a broken record (an anachronism on the order of the acoustic= piano - well, maybe worse off than the piano). We as technicians are extrem= ely important pieces of the picture of the acoustic piano world. We are the = interface between client and dealer, and even client and manufacturer. I fee= l very strongly that we owe it to ourselves to deal with the manufacturers i= n an honest and constructive way. After all, we are really all on the same t= eam. There is a saying: "Honesty without compassion is brutality."= It IS possible to tell the truth about problems we encounter, and still sho= w the manufacturers we want them to succeed. I understand that some people j= ust want to make a fast buck but, honestly, do you think they'd go into the = piano biz if that was their only motive???? If we take the risk to tell the = truth in a helpful and positive way, maybe we can help the industry as a who= le. Not bad for a day's work.... Mary At 05:46 PM 11/21/2004 -0600, you wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE>Good point David.  In the past I have openly nam= ed brands, but Im not sure its wise.  Constraint is not my usual style.=  I am not afraid to loose service business (Im swamped and established= ) nor really of the dealers.  The manufacturers&. well I just dont = want to look like I try to find this stuff ya know?   I jus= t seem to always put my foot where Id rather not have it and this seemed lik= e one of those times.  I caught a lot of grief from the dealer (who is = a large one) and the local one too.  I am known in this area for findin= g problems in pianos and pointing them out to help/protect the buyer/custome= r.  I have made a lot of enemies I guess because of this.  I am no= w just starting in the retail business myself and just dont need any added d= rama   ; ) .  If it helps, the piano in question is neither a= Mason, Yamaha, nor Steinway but a foreign lower quality (in my opinion) ins= trument. Lance Lafargue</F= ONT>, RPT LAFARGUE PIANOS<B= R> New Orleans Chapt= er, PTG 985.72P.IANO llafargue@charter.net www.lafarguepianos.com <a h= ref="http://www.lafarguepianos.com/"><http://www.lafarguepianos.com/><= /a> -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [<a href="mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]">m= ailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]</a> On Behalf Of David Skolnik Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 5:23 PM To: College and University Technicians Subject: Re: [CAUT] back duplex Lance - While, to some degree, I understand and respect your reluctance to appear t= o be casting aspersion on a particular brand, it strikes me as somewhat biza= rre that, as technicians, we seem to have no qualms about discussing our fee= structures (recently on pianotech), but we're afraid to speak directly abou= t our experiences, for fear of offending someone.  We live in fear, eit= her of the customers who won't call back, or the dealers or manufacturers, w= hom, we seem convinced, are ready to destroy us, professionally, if we compl= ain.   To be sure, you're not alone in this.  What would happ= en if you just said, "This was a ..."? David Skolnik At 08:28 AM 11/17/2004 -0600, you wrote: I was recently called out to a 7grand with a buzz= .  Names and brand will be withheld to reduce my stress level.  It= turned out to be the back duplex.  There was so little bearing at the = aliquot that the strings could be moved back and fourth with a finger nail. =  After much searching, I finally found, (and a local tech who works on = these a lot suggested/confirmed) that when the humidity went up, the strings= touching the aliquot were raised enough to buzz (at center of piano, around= F3).  I called the factory and the tech said, sounds like a bearing pr= oblem, plate position problem, etc.  Send it back, well send another. &= nbsp;I did.  Then, when the 2nd piano came in, it had the same b= earing problem, so I stopped, did not prep, just called the factory.  T= he dealer then called a second tech out who threaded a strip of felt through= the back duplex to prevent any ringing at all.  What effect does this = have on the sound, etc.  I figure, if it was designed to ring, it shoul= d.  Was this a good solution and an ethical handling of the customer, w= ho paid around $28,000?  Thanks.   Lance Lafargue, RPT LAFARGUE PIANOS New Orleans Chapter, PTG 985.72P.IANO llafargue@charter.net www.lafarguepianos.com <a href="http://www.lafarg= uepianos.com/"><http://www.lafarguepianos.com/></a>     </BLOCKQUOTE> </BODY> </HTML>