Hi Larry, My advice would be, unless you love to do charity work, don't compromise yourself for these piano situations. Do good work. Charge a fair price. If the customer doesn't want to pay it, move on. Strive to be the best and you will eventually get the best. This piano doesn't appear to be worth the effort. If it is sentimental to the owner, then they would be willing to pay the piper to have it reconditioned. If not, move on - "there are many fish in the sea" as my mother always told me. Regards, John Piesik San Diego Chapter PTG JPIESIK@ARINC.COM Any advice on how to make this piano playable again? It's 130 cents flat. The strings that weren't replaced are PDR (pretty rusty), there's a shallow, 4 inch crack in the bridge cap at the treble end of the bass bridge ("always inspect the piano" - Randy Potter). For some reason (probably Phillipine humidity) the pins are tight enough to hold a tuning. I've already warned the owner that it's time to start looking into a cemetery plot for it, but she really wants to use THIS piano (but she isn't interested in spending a lot of money on it). Also, is there any advice on how to avoid getting calls from owners of pianos like this?? <g> I hate charging people good money for working on junk (although the work is fun!). Larry Goss in Cedar Mill, Oregon Dues-paying PTG novitiate (officially, "Associate", but not "member", since the PTG absconded with that word. Lexicographers of common English usage are still wondering where it went), rare attender of local guild meetings, unmotivated PTG exam procrastinator, authentic Klutz, and semi-retired house husband.
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