>...I think, as piano technicians, we owe it to the piano playing public, >that we >tell them that pianos do not last forever, and that it is time to consider = a >newer, or new, piano, one that has all the parts, including keytops. One th= at >doesn't break down every other months. One on which the kid can learn to pl= ay >on, without having to compensate for wobbly flanges, unglued jacks, or worn >out hammers. > >Willem Blees RPT >St. Louis. Dear Wim, List, Some folks operate that way, some don't. Resurrecting pianos is an art form to some extent. At least, I bank on it while others are delivering a doomsday message. A piano would has to be pretty far gone before I'll suggest to a customer to replace it. I've seen too many fine young players grow up on what I used to think were pianos in need of relocation to the local landfill. And I have serviced many uprights whose keytops were missing, a hammer or two broken, and miscellaneous minor repairs that are magnicent in sound and touch. They are well worth patching up. Just the other day I visited an Ivers & Pond, had agraffes from the bass/tenor break all the way to the top...just astounding to play and experience the presence, even though there were obvious action and keytop discrepancies. I can't imagine that piano ever being too old. And of all things, these folks got it for nothing, a give-away. Oh well... Keith A. McGavern, RPT kam544@ionet.net Oklahoma Chapter 731 Oklahoma Baptist University Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA
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