Just needs a little tuning!

[Dean May]

Joey, don't let the naysayers on the list dissuade you from doing the job.
It may be this piano has emotional value for the customer that exceeds its
intrinsic value. There is nothing wrong with doing this job. You'll get good
experience, make money and make your customer happy. It's all good.

 

You should heed Conrad's warning about structural problems. Strings only
break at the bottom like that because of standing in water, or really high
moisture. Even you don't see any separations you might consider pulling
plate screws at the top and bottom and running machine screws all the way
through with nuts on the back side. If you counterbore the back side with a
wide spade bit the bolt end and nut will be somewhat hidden. It also works
well to use Goop to glue on a 1/2" PVC plastic pipe cap. The cap hides the
bolt and nut and gives a nice finished appearance.

 

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Joey Recker
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 5:23 AM
To: 'Pianotech List'
Subject: Just needs a little tuning!

 

"Mamma said there be days like this."

 

This morning I woke up to a terrible rain storm.  My first piano of the day
was a new customer only 10 miles away who told me she had an upright piano
that just needed a "tuning".

 

I arrived to find a 1975 Henry F. Miller Spinet.  It didn't look too bad
from the outside.  Then I opened it up.  the felt on every single hammer is
seperating from the hammers.  I counted 24 bass strings broken, and 26
treble strings.

 

I showed her what it looked like on the inside and she asked me if it was
worth fixing.  I told her that she was the only one who could decide that.
I gave her a price for re-stringing, and replacing all the hammers and a
good cleaning.  I explained to her what a comperable piano would cost her to
purchase new and used.  I bid the job high enough (but fair for the amount
of work that needs to be done) and figured that no sane person would want to
put that kind of money into this piano.  She wants it fixed!   

 

I usually just lurk here and glean all the knowlege I can from you fine
folks, but my new year's resolution is to participate more in the list.  I
thought this gem of a piano was worth sharing.  I'm just glad all it needed
was a good tuning!  I don't think I could stand it if it needed some serious
work done!

 

Joey

On Key Piano

Plains, GA

 <http://www.livingwaters.com/learn/> 

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