lazy RPT

[Clyde Hollinger]

Tom,

As I'm getting older I'm getting less flexible, I guess.  If I had been the
former tuner I would have said, "Yes, that needs to be done, but I can't include
that much work in this appointment.  I can make an appointment to come back in a
couple weeks, or if you wish we can let it go until the next tuning is due."

That way I don't get my schedule all bent out of shape, and the work will get
done properly.  I never had anyone insist that I should have allowed time to do
unexpected work; I guess they all know that wouldn't be practical in the long
run.

Regards,
Clyde

P.S.  Did your wife's aunt really expect you to tune the piano for nothing, or
are you just naturally big-hearted?

Tvak@aol.com wrote:

> My wife's aunt called me and asked me to tune her piano, an Acrosonic.  Last
> time I was at her house I had noticed that there was considerable lost motion
> in the action, so I told her she should tell her tuner about it and have him
> take care of it. Since she is a professional musician, I was sure she would
> feel the difference and appreciate it.
>
> Well, this was about a year ago, so I was curious to see if she had had it
> taken care of, or whether I was going to have to do it.  So I opened it up
> and checked it right away.
>
> It was gone.  No lost motion.  I played a C major scale starting on middle C
> and it was tight as it could be.  But then I got to G5 and there it was; lost
> motion on all the keys from G5 up.  So I checked downward and found the lost
> motion started again at the tenor/bass break and went all the way down to the
> bottom.  And not just a little bit of lost motion, either.  Most keys took 2
> turns of the capstan wrench.
>
> So I asked her, "Did you ask your tuner to take care of the lost motion?"
> And she replied, "Yes.  He took care of it last time he was here, but he
> didn't seem too happy about it."
>
> It seemed obvious to me that he only did the middle register.  He was her
> tuner for over 15 years.  It amazes me that this guy cared so little for his
> faithful client.  He must have been on a tight schedule that day, but
> still...is that an excuse?
>
> His card was in the piano with the RPT logo.
>
> The bad news is: this is just another piano I'll have to tune for free for
> the rest of my life.
>
> Tom Sivak
>
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