PTG Helps Prevent Technical Inbreeding

[Farrell]

I was dumbfounded that other day when I went to do a pre-purchase inspection
of a grey market Yamaha G5 the other day. The piano was at one of these
warehouse wholesalers of grey-market Japanese pianos they import by the
boat-load. There are about a half-dozen "pie-anna technicians" that seems to
work there. They have little booths in the warehouse and they "rebuild"
pianos. Basically, new strings, hammers, and paint. Pianos out in the
showroom are absolutely HORRIBLE (look great - play and sound horrible).

Anyway, while tuning the G5 a youngish dude walks up to me and asks me about
the little blue machine I have with the rotating lights. Seems this
4th-generation piano tuner (about 30 years old) has never even heard of a
Sanderson AccuTuner. He asked me if I was a Guild member. I said yes. He
said he had gone to a few meetings but "all they did was talk about the
neighbors dog and stuff like that - they were all so old and I guess I don't
have anything in common with them".

Then he showed me his little piano cubby. He proudly showed me the Steinway
he was installing the plate into. "I just put this soundboard in - another
tech made it for me - this is the first one we have done here - I'm just
getting ready to string it." Well, he was in fact installing the plate. The
original bridge was already glued in place with original notching, original
dagged top surface, and original bridge pins. So what's he got here? About a
one-in-a-hundred chance that the bridge will be at ideal elevations for
downbearing? Maybe one-in-a-thousand?

He also made some mention about "personalities" in the Guild. Golly, every
organization where people are members has their share of shmucks. I've met a
couple in PTG that were possibly a little less than perfect! But gosh, what
a great place full of knowledgeable folks that are willing to share
information. You get out of an organization what you put into it. Techs like
this one might be better off paying less attention to an arthritis story and
ask a few questions about pianos. Like maybe: "I have heard the term 'bridge
recapping' - what is that?"

My experience with the 4th generation piano technician also brings to mind
one thing that Randy Potter wrote in his course. That is to be aware of the
"experienced" technician who has studied under someone that is not well
trained - pointing out that there is a difference between a tech that has
thirty years experience and one that has experienced
first-year-level-knowledge over and over again for thirty years in a row. It
seems like this kid may be a victim of experience inbreeding. "That's how me
pappy, grand-pappy, and great-grand-pappy did it - and that's how a I'm a
gonner do it - I'm a 4th generation Pie-Anna Tuner!"

There is such a wealth of information freely flowing about the PTG that one
can often consider several ways of approaching a task and then deciding
which one appears best to you. If it works great, OK, maybe you will try
another approach next time. But what a rich thing this PTG. What a rich
thing this Pianotech List.

I'm glad I don't operate in a closet like my poor friend. Thanks Guys & Gals

Terry Farrell