low(est) end pianos

[pianolover 88]

Anyone ever heard of "J. Becker"? Atlas shows last one was made around 1895, 
but I worked on one that was purchased NEW about 5 years ago. My guess is 
that it's korean or China built, and the original name was used. This is 
just about the most Cheaply made (4'7") grand I've seen. The one thing I was 
surprised to see was a lid lock! usually you don't see these on the 
cheapies, as the company wants to cut corners wherever they can to cut cost. 
This piano had so many problems i don't know where to start; let's just 
suffice it to say the action was terribly inconsitent (piano not used much 
to this point, and no wonder!) and even the tails of the angled hammers were 
left UNsquared to the backchecks! Indeed, the backchecks instead were angled 
in order to catch the tails! Alsmost ALL the backchecks were way to close, 
"trapping" the  hammer, and not allowing it to rise to the string, and 
letoff, blow distance, jack height, reps....ALL were regualted differently  
from one to the next. Screws were loose, holes stripped out, damper lift 
wildly inconsistent, you name it! Even the top lid was off kilter. Company 
who sold it to her went out of business-so much for the warranty.

Terry Peterson



----Original Message Follows----
From: Piannaman@aol.com
Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: low end pianos
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 10:22:56 EST

Admirable attitudes one and all.  I share in it the vast majority of the
time.  There are times, however, when just getting all the notes working 
takes up
a fair share of the appointment time I've scheduled for the client.  In 
those
cases, time is the limiting factor, and I point out to the client that at 
this
particular appointment, getting the piano functioning is the priority.

On pianos where everything works at least reasonably well, I'm in total
agreement with y'all.  It will probably be a far longer time between tunings 
for
the economically challenged.  And let's face it--if they can stretch the 
budget
to pay (usually at a very discounted price) for piano servicing, they are 
more
likely to appreciate your work than someone for whom their Steinway is just
another dust-collecting status symbol.

Dave Stahl

In a message dated 12/30/04 5:53:12 AM Pacific Standard Time,
hoffsoco@luther.edu writes:


> My attitude regarding the low end piano is the antithesis of a  comment 
I
> >read here on the list a few years ago: "I put a timer on the 
piano  and
> >when 45 minutes passes, the piano is tuned."
> >
> > >Mine too.
> >
> >Yes, it's harder  to tune that beast, but I think no one would 
argue the
> >fact that we tuners  offer service to people.  Some people own
> >Steinways.  Some people  own other pianos.
> >
> > >Case in point: I tune almost any piano within 15 minutes of my 
house
> > (any farther and it s pretty much only good grands.) Today I tuned 
a
> > Wurlitzer console; it was a neighbor s grandma s piano, with a 
card from
> > Francis Mehaffey stuck in the top (Grandma lived in Claremont, CA, 
where
> > Francis lived.)
> >
> >Anyway, I didn t just run through it, but tuned it as I would tune 
a good
> >grand---slowly and carefully.
> >
> >When it was done, and I played it, the first thing out of my mouth 
was
> >that s the best this little guy has ever sounded.
> >
> >A good, focused tuning can make a huge difference in a C grade 
piano.
> Really.
>
> >David Andersen
>
>
> DEFINITELY!!
>
> The only reason that a tuning on a C-grade piano could take any less 
time
> is that the point of diminishing returns is reached earlier.  Usually, 
it
> takes longer because of reasons we all know.
>
> My tuning is done when _I'm_ satisfied that it has the best tuning 
possible.
> i.e. - I tune for my own pleasure...
>
> Questions I ask myself before I close up the piano:
> 1. Is it the best tuning the piano can take?
> 2. Is the piano in better condition (exclusive of tuning) than when I 
found
> it?
> 3. Have I addressed all the concerns the customer may have voiced?
>
>
>
>
>
> Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT, MPT, CCT, PFP, ACS, CRS.
> Decorah, IA
>
> - Certified Calibration Technician for Bio-powered Digitally Activated
> Lever Action Tone Generation Systems.
> - Pianotech Flamesuit Purveyor
> - American Curmudgeon Society - Apprentice Member and Founder
>