Junk Pianos

[Joe And Penny Goss]

Hi Stephen,
Neat photo!! As one can not see the fallboard or any identifying names I can
not determine if this is the Ricca that you so fondly refer to in your
posts.
If it is, it must be a joy to have such a fine example of a piano that needs
everything done to it to bring it to limited usability.
And I now understand why you ask the questions that you do about this
instrument.

Hope to see you at San Diego for the conference! <G>
Joe Goss
imatunr@srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephen Airy" <stephen_airy@yahoo.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2002 4:14 PM
Subject: Re: Junk Pianos


> Speaking of junk pianos and practicing rebuilding
> skills....
> What would you think of learning on a piano like this
> one:
>
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/stephen_airy/vwp?.dir=/pianostuff&.dnm=RCPiano
1.jpg
> ??
> --- Z! Reinhardt <diskladame@provide.net> wrote:
> > Notice that the complaining is not directed at the
> > customer.  It is an attempt to understand how
> > certain people can be so willing to spend so much
> > money on all kinds of expensive state-of-the-art
> > stuff for themselves yet cheap out in the worst way
> > when it comes to their kids' interests.  The
> > incongruity of the situation is enough to annoy most
> > readers on this list, especially when the cheap-out
> > involves what we love working on the most.
> >
> > I personally think this is yet another case of an
> > owner who understands and knows what to expect from
> > the other material goods listed in the post, but
> > hasn't a clue about how a piano should function and
> > is not willing to spend the money to find out.  It's
> > the same scenerio as the fancy exclusive club (or
> > some other wealthy establishment) that buys only the
> > cheapest piano available and expects the various
> > pianists it hires to play the thing without
> > complaint ... because the manager in charge of the
> > thing knows nothing about and probably doesn't care
> > about knowing anything concerning pianos.  The
> > pianists can all be children for all they care.
> >
> > Now the challenge is to convince the customer to
> > upgrade to a better instrument for the kids, and
> > some customers in this position can be incredibly
> > stubborn for reasons we technicians have trouble
> > understanding.  There's also the question of how
> > best to keep the junkers out of circulation unless
> > they were rebuilt into serviceable instruments.
> >
> > Z! Reinhardt  RPT
> > Ann Arbor  MI
> > diskladame@provide.net
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >   From: Billbrpt@AOL.COM
> >   To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >   Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2002 12:16 AM
> >   Subject: Re: Junk Pianos
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >     End of rant..............for now.
> >
> >     Terry Farrell
> >
> >   Terry, it doesn't do any good to complain about
> > this kind of situation here.  We've all seen it and
> > we've all dealt with it.  If you have enough work to
> > do, then just tell them the facts, the piano is not
> > suitable because it is unserviceable.  Yes, you'll
> > often get the look of great disappointment and
> > disbelief and also not get any money either (or
> > perhaps only a small service call fee).
> >
> >   You can more easily get a service call fee in such
> > a situation if you spend less time fuming over and
> > condemning the piano and the last tuner if you take
> > the time to spell out, illustrate and demonstrate
> > the facts and talk to them seriously about the
> > benefits of new piano ownership.  (You may also get
> > a healthy commission from a dealer if they buy based
> > on your recomendation). It will outlast the SUVs and
> > all the other expensive consumer goods.  It can go
> > to a grandchild when that time comes.  It is salable
> > and sometimes at a gain rather than loss if the kids
> > just don't take to it.
> >
> >   On the other hand, there is very little which
> > can't be fixed, including all of the items you
> > mentioned.  During my rebuilding days, I got an
> > Aeolian piano for free that was deemed worthless
> > from smoke and moisture damage.  I refinished it,
> > cleaned it out, repainted the plate and restrung it
> > including a rescaling job.  I sold it to a dealer
> > for a price that suited me and the dealer sold it to
> > a customer as a "good deal".  That was in the mid
> > 1080's and I still tune that piano every year.  It
> > is in a nice, suburban home where they also have
> > expensive stuff.
> >
> >   I don't like Aeolian pianos any more than you do
> > and very rarely, you'll find one that is really too
> > far gone to be worth repair.  You can practice
> > restringing skills, hammer and action replacement
> > skills, key leveling and other regulation on a piano
> > such as this and when you get to do the same with
> > some really fine instruments, you'll have good
> > skills.  But just complaining about all the "junk"
> > pianos out there won't get you anything.
> >
> >   Bill Bremmer RPT
> >   Madison, Wisconsin
> >   Click here: -=w w w . b i l l b r e m m e r . c o
> > m =-
> >
>
>
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