<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C4CFF2.0958B420"> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Good point David.  In the past I have openly named = brands, but I’m not sure it’s wise.  Constraint is not my usual = style.  I am not afraid to loose = service business (I’m swamped and established) nor really of the = dealers.  The manufacturers…. well = I just don’t want to look like I try to find this stuff ya = know?   I just seem to always put my = foot where I’d rather not have it and this seemed like 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 = finding problems in pianos and pointing them out to help/protect the buyer/customer.  I have = made a lot of enemies I guess because of this.  I am now just starting in the retail business myself and just = don’t need any added drama   ; ) .  If = it helps, the piano in question is neither a Mason, Yamaha, nor Steinway but a = foreign lower quality (in my opinion) instrument. = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <st1:PersonName>Lance Lafargue</st1:PersonName>, RPT<o:p></o:p> LAFARGUE = PIANOS<o:p></o:p> New Orleans = Chapter, PTG<o:p></o:p> 985.72P.IANO<o:p><= /o:p> <a href="mailto:llafargue@charter.net">llafargue@charter.net</a></f= ont><o:p></o:p> <a href="http://www.lafarguepianos.com">www.lafarguepianos.com</a><= /font><o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p><= /span> </div> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original = Message----- From: = caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On = Behalf Of David Skolnik Sent: Friday, November = 19, 2004 5:23 PM To: College and = University Technicians Subject: Re: [CAUT] back = duplex <o:p> </o:p> Lance - While, to some degree, I understand and respect your reluctance to = appear to be casting aspersion on a particular brand, it strikes me as somewhat = bizarre that, as technicians, we seem to have no qualms about discussing our fee structures (recently on pianotech), but we're afraid to speak directly = about our experiences, for fear of offending someone.  We live in fear, = either of the customers who won't call back, or the dealers or manufacturers, = whom, we seem convinced, are ready to destroy us, professionally, if we complain.   To be sure, you're not alone in this.  What = would happen if you just said, "This was a ..."? David Skolnik At 08:28 AM 11/17/2004 -0600, you wrote: <![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> 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 problem, plate position problem, etc.  Send it back, well send another.  I did.  Then, when the 2nd piano came in, = it had the same bearing problem, so I stopped, did not prep, just called = the factory.  The 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 should.  Was this a good solution and an ethical handling of the customer, who paid around $28,000?  Thanks.    Lance Lafargue, RPT LAFARGUE PIANOS New Orleans Chapter, PTG 985.72P.IANO <a href="mailto:llafargue@charter.net">llafargue@charter.net</a> <a href="http://www.lafarguepianos.com/" = eudora=autourl>www.lafarguepianos.com</a>    <o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>