BAD, BADD, PIANO

[Shawn Brock]

Hey thanks Avery,
I guess my problem is turning down money!  That will get you every time!  I 
think this will all turn out for the best.  It seems the folks are going to 
look at a new piano.  Maby everyone will be happy.  I feel better knowing 
that others have made the same dumb mistake.  Thank you for your reply.
Shawn Brock
Cincinnati Sound Lab
130 East Sixth Street
Cincinnati Oh.
45202
Phone: 513-349-8541
Web Site:
www.cincysoundlab.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Avery" <avery1 at houston.rr.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 2:00 PM
Subject: Re: BAD, BADD, PIANO


> Shawn,
>
> Comments interspersed.
>
> At 12:22 PM 9/14/2006, you wrote:
>>Good people,
>>I'm hopeing someone can giv my novice behind some advice.  Yesterday I 
>>went to service a piano for a new customer.  I was told it was an old 
>>Upright from the STAR PIANO COMPANY.  When I arrived (got the Library of 
>>Congress off the top of the damn thing) opened her up to have a look, or 
>>in my case a feel.  The first thing I saw was the hammer felt was split on 
>>probably half of the hammers.  On some it had separated from the molding. 
>>I madee decision the piano could not be properly voiced.
>
> With that happening, it can't be properly tuned either!!!!!! That's when 
> you should have stopped!
>
>>The next thing was the strings.  They were corroded with rust.  So I was 
>>afraid to bring the piano up to pitch.
>
> Maybe, maybe not.
>
>>The last thing was the tuning pins, they were so loose I could not believe 
>>it.
>
> That's when I would have definitely made my "escape" if he wouldn't put 
> out a BUNCH of money to fix it! Or better yet, replace it!
>
>>I made statements to the man of the house about all of these problems.  He 
>>told me "do the best you can with it"
>
> Well, it depends on how much you value your reputation!
>
>>So, I tuned.  Was the tuning good?  No way!  But it was better than what 
>>they had.  I tuned the temperament three times.  It seemed the piano was 
>>just going flat each time.
>
> Those loose tuning pins??????
>
>>After about 2 hours I stood up and said, this is all I can do with it. 
>>You might want to think about a new piano.  Yes yes we are he tells me. 
>>We know this one is about gone.  I tell the old boy, theirs no about to 
>>it.  It is!  I collected my money, and out the door I went.  I left my 
>>card with them, and stated to give me a call if they needed anyone to help 
>>them find a new piano, or someone to look at a piano for them.
>
> That's what I'd done in the first place!
>
>>After getting home some 8 hours later I got a call from the man of the 
>>house.  He told me that now the piano sounded worse than it did before it 
>>was tuned.  What do you all think of that?  Should I go back and try it 
>>again free of charge?
>
> NO!
>
>>  Should I forget about it?
>
> YES! Remind him of what you said about getting a "newer" piano and that he 
> said "We know this one is about gone."
>
>>I should have never taken the job in the first place right?
>
> Very definitely. Especially after you found all those problems.
>
>>Well I have a driver to pay, I came 25 miles out of my way, I have told 
>>them i just dont know how this will work out.  The piano has a lot of 
>>problems.  So I did the job...  And now...
>
> Hopefully, a lesson learned! Well, you made a mistake. We all did when we 
> were "young" in this profession. All I can say is remind him of the above, 
> accept your losses and vow never to make the same mistake again!!!!!!!
>
> Sounds a little like you need a "mentor" to call and get some advice 
> before you do jobs like this! JMO.
>
> Avery Todd
> University of Houston
>
>>Shawn Brock
>