Was it something I said?

[Farrell]

I have a nice set of pictures of shimming and re-attaching the board to ribs
at the crack. I would be happy to send them to you if you would like.

I think the bottom line for your situation is that almost ANY board can be
saved/shimmed/re-glued (among these are boards that many would argue should
be replaced). AND, almost any piano over 50 years old would benefit from a
new board at time of restringing. So, where does your piano lie? I believe
it mostly depends on a combination of the following factors, listed roughly
in the order of importance: how much is the piano owner willing to spend,
what are they piano looking for in a piano (for looks only, so Susie
six-year-old can start taking lessons someday, or do they play well), is the
piano replaceable (is it a family heirloom or some other
no-other-piano-will-do situation), what is the condition of the
board/bridges (what is crown & downbearing status), how much the piano is
worth (or could be worth), and where your standards lie. These are decisions
you and your customer need to make. I believe the customer should be an
integral part of this decision.

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
To: "Pianotech, forum" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 11:31 PM
Subject: Was it something I said?


> Greetings fellow listees,
>     About  a week agao I post this message and only had two people
> respond. I really could use some more opinions so I'll try posting this
> again. Please take a moment to respond. I really could use your advice!
>
> Greg
>
>  Greetings folks,
> >     I need the advice of you treasured people who are so kind to find
> > the time to teach those clueless people like myself.
> >     I took in a piano for a customer who was having a property of
> theirs
> > demolished and needed to get the piano out in a hurry. She is having
> and
> > A.B.Chase (early 20's vintage) refinished, restrung, and action
> > overhauled for her family. I have had this piano in my home for about
> > three months acting as a big surface upon which to gather many many
> > useless items. I recently was preparing to begin the restringing
> process
> > and took down the tension on all the strings and removed the bass
> > strings. I plan to have Newton redesign the scale for this while ,
> > hopefully teaching me how to do it for future piano I may inflict my
> > talents upon. Since I took down the tension about a week ago I found
> > something rather startling. What began as one very shim able but not
> yet
> > seperated crack in the board has now become 6 or more two of which
> have
> > separated from the ribs at spots and are wide enough to see daylight
> > through. I would call the main crack to be about thick enough to slip
> a
> > thin guitar pick through. This particular one has the wood being
> uneven
> > on both side of the crack indicating it's separation from the ribs.
> > Naturally this big one is right through the center of the board.
> >     I'd like the opinion of this list as to whether these cracks can
> or
> > should be repaired or is it time for another board? I've never left
> > tension off a piano for this long before. Did I do a no no? If it is
> > your opinion that a new board and bridges are necessary then how would
>
> > you go about telling the customer of this added cost? Do you know
> anyone
> > in the Cleveland, OH area of perhaps PA area that you can recommend to
>
> > install a new board and do a job I could be proud to offer? Are there
> > any pitfalls along the way I should look out for? What could I expect
> to
> > pay for a board and bridges?
> >     I've only subcontracted once before and I got bit really bad that
> > time so I'm really gun shy. Thank you for the time and effort to
> > respond. I hope the coming days, months, and years bring you all
> > continued growth and prosperity.
> >
> > Greg
> >
>
> --
> Greg Newell
> Greg's Piano Forté
> 19270 Harlon Ave.
> Lakewood, Ohio 44107
> 216-226-3791
> mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
>
>