Concert Prep - what is it and what it isn't?

[Eugenia Carter]

----- Original Message -----
From: <A440A@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2000 10:45 AM
Subject: Re: Concert Prep - what is it and what it isn't?
>
> Greetings,
>     Consider "auditioning" the piano (to use Jolly's description) before
you
> agree to be responsible for it. If the piano really needs work to be at or
> near performance level, tell them that you cannot risk your reputation on
a
> poor instrument in a highly visible venue.   If it is going to make you
look
> bad in a concert hall,  better to forego the tuning income than have your
> name negatively advertised.  You may be surprised to find that they CAN
have
> it repaired if they must.
> Regards,
> Ed Foote RPT

Good, sound advice Ed.

Brian, you wrote:
<given the time - what amount of time should I look
at? what should I work on? do I try and re-regulate the piano to specs I
have from that Steinway book which has blow at 1 7/8" (47mm) and touch at
9.5mm or as "it works", leave it?>

Each piano is different, as you know. Only you can determine what it needs
because only you have examined it. From what you described I would guess you
are looking at a minimum of a full day's work, probably more.

What should you work on? Depends on the agreement you make with the people
who pay.

Please, please do not try to regulate any piano according to specs from a
book, Steinway included.  Those specs are recommended specs, not set in
stone specs. "Recommended" means that they _might_ work, and probably will
get you into the ball park area. Is the ball park area where you want to
leave it?

Since grand regulation is so interactive (hummmm, I've heard that term
before <g>), adjusting one will surely effect another and another and
another.... How much of your own time _do_ you want to spend before you make
a final decision about what to do?

In your situation I would recommend Ed's approach. You've already examined
the piano. Tell them what it needs and how much it will cost for you to fix
it.

My 2 cents,

Gina