BAD, BADD, PIANO

[Pianoman]

Hi Shawn,
You told him that was the best YOU could do.  More correctly, you should 
have said that is as good as IT can get.  Maybe demonstrating to him how the 
pins were loose would have helped.  Sometimes the client thinks they can get 
your work for free if they make you feel guilty, even though you have 
explained the piano's problems.  You did ethical work and you will learn 
better what to say with more experience.  They are not do a refund.
Hang in there.
James

James Grebe   Piano Tuning & Repair   Member of M.P.T.
R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years.   "Member of the Year" in 1989
Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, Piano Benches, Writing 
Instruments,Table Timepieces
 (314) 845-8282   1526 Raspberry Lane   Arnold, MO 63010
Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History
BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!
pianoman at accessus.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shawn Brock" <shawnbrock at fuse.net>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 12:22 PM
Subject: BAD, BADD, PIANO


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.  Whin I arrived (got the Library of Congress 
off the top of the damn thing) opened her up to hav 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.  The next thing was the 
strings.  They were corroded with rust.  So I was afraid to bring the piano 
up to pitch.  The last thing was the tuning pins, they were so loose I could 
not believe 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"  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.  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 giv me a call if they needed anyone to help them find a 
new piano, or someone to look at a piano for them.  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?  Should I 
forget about it?  I should have never taken the job in the first place 
right?  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...
Shawn Brock
Cincinnati Sound Lab
130 East Sixth Street
Cincinnati Oh.
45202
Phone: 513-349-8541
Web Site:
www.cincysoundlab.com