<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"> <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@01C538F3.7E9A58A0"> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple = style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Rob, list,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> My main problem with so called = “dealer programs” is that the pianos are usually not prepped and, being = new, have all the instability of new pianos. So what happened is I would prep the = pianos and do the extra tunes needed, bring them up to optimal condition = regulationally, and then the dealer would trade them out! Sometimes right after I did = all the work! (Lifting/leveling coils & strings, full regulation as needed, = easing keys, etc. etc.) Even at the years end they were just beginning to be = stable and where I wanted them to be. Oh yeah, it’s a great deal for the = dealer…they could really sell them AFTER I did the big work. JMO, but I’m not = sold that these programs should be encouraged.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Here at BYU in 1984 we bought 10 = new UST7s for around $1800.00 each, and this year (after 20 years use) sold them = for around $1400.00 each. We go maintain them well and go over them before = they’re sold so they are fairly decent. Net result is that we had the pianos for = about $20.00 per year! Works for us!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:PersonName>Jim = Busby</st1:PersonName> RPT<o:p></o:p> <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Brigham</f= ont></st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName>Young</fon= t></st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>University= </st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original = Message----- From: = caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On = Behalf Of Christopher Purdy Sent: Saturday, April 02, = 2005 3:57 PM To: College and = University Technicians Subject: Re: [CAUT] Hello = - and looking for piano replacement help <o:p> </o:p> <div> Rob, <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Put on your boots. I laid this on pretty = thick. <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> I have been the sole piano technician at Ohio University for almost fifteen years now. I know first hand of the = extreme wear and damage pianos are subjected to in a university setting. Practice = room and faculty studio pianos receive ten fold the amount of use and abuse as = any piano in a home situation. <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Pianos must be replaced on a consistent basis = due to the excessive burden placed on them by 14 to 16 hours of heavy daily = usage. Extreme wear on all piano parts demands an inordinate amount of time for repair, rebuilding, and re-regulation. The piano technician's time that = should be spent on fine tuning and close regulation is lost to many hours of = extensive repair, just to get the piano playable. <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> A school of music should not have mediocre = pianos that can barely be maintained to a passable level. We should be offering our students the best possible instruments to facilitate the level of = pedagogy expected of us. <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Edit away, <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Chris <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </body> </html>