Virgin Kimball Player Service Call

[Ron Nossaman]

>
> Today I had the unique experience of tuning  and repairing (or at least
> attempting to) and Kimball spinet player. When I went to take the kneeboard
> off, I had to remove a block of wood that was stapled beneath the keybed
> blocking the spring that holds the kneeboard in place. It would appear that
> the kneeboard had not been removed since the piano was manufactured in 1971.
>  I asked the lady when it was last tuned. She said she bought it in 1971 and
> had never tuned it because it didn't need it. 


I know there must be some sort of vaguely chastising psychological term for
blatantly gloating over another's misfortune in blundering into the same black
hole of maintenance mediocrity that I, myself, am all too often scraping from
the soles of my tuner booties, but (with all sincerity, and whatever sympathy I
can muster at this point) - HA Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha!

I know it really shouldn't, but somehow that felt kind of good.

That said, and enjoyed altogether too much, I can now get on with the more
negative aspects of the issue (progeny, spawn, distillation). That is, of
course...

>
> Gonna have to get a pro in to look at it.


Good luck sir. May your bunions be relatively small, and your tax liabilities
be overlooked until you can get out of town. Might I predict your having better
luck finding a sackbut specialist? Not to be negative, you understand. Just
trying to remain within the limits of probability.


>
> How in the world can someone buy a piano and not have it tuned for 30 years?
> Absolutely amazing.


Easy. I've seen people actually spend evenings making lists of expenditures
they haven't made in the interest of... well, interest. Also, I think I can
safely say that a Kimball spinet player wasn't originally purchased as a
pianist's gateway to musical Nirvana, so your point is categorically misfiled
in the first place. It's OK though. So was the piano.


>
>  I'm glad she called me. It was profitable (but only appropriately so)! She's
> happy. I'm happy!
>  
> Terry Farrell


For now. Mark this spot and get back to us when the "It's fine except for..."
calls start coming in. I wish you luck pardner, but I doubt you've seen the
last of the ugly this one has to offer.

Hope I'm wrong.

Ron N