Breaking Strings

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Bravo Conrad:

I have never thought of such an approach. Great idea.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Thu, 8 Oct 1998, Conrad Hoffsommer wrote:

> Howdy,
> 
> >     Kelly said that "Strings break, but technicians do not break strings". 
> 
> "Tis well known on this list that my thought processes are, ahem, slightly
> different. 
> 
> I proved (both) the above to one simmering irate customer (client?)
> 
> Last tuning of the day, last part of the tuning (high treble unisons),
> boink! Mutter, mutter (to self only at this point).  Fetched string supply
> and replaced with no problem.
> 
> Owner objected to charge for replacing broken string since I had "obviously"
> been the one to break it.  No amount of verbal explanation would convince
> said person of serendipitous breakage.
> 
> Decided to play dirty.  I asked to customer if at any time during my tuning
> there were wild pitch swings observed. Answer - " no".
> 
> "OK then", said I, "let me show you what I would have to do to purposefully
> break a string, no charge to replace demo string"
> 
> I then proceeded to pop the new string I'd just put in (since I knew it
> wasn't rusted or anything else). 
> 
> After owner heard how far sharp I had to go to break it, a faint apology was
> heard and the full bill was paid.
> 
> Not something you want to do in the middle of a full day, but effective...
> 
> Conrad
> 
> Conrad Hoffsommer         Office - (319) 387-1204
> Luther College            Music Dept Fax - (319) 387-1076
> 700 College Drive         hoffsoco@luther.edu
> Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
> 
>        Certified Calibration Technician (CCT) of
>    Digitally Activated Biopowered Tone Generation Systems
> "If you have to plug it in, or you can't watch how it works,
>                 I don't work on it."
> 
>