[pianotech] Old upright

[wimblees at aol.com]

When a piano has a lot of sentiments, it does become difficult to tell the customer the piano is no longer serviceable. But, as I explain in my book, just as the customer gave their elderly loved ones a proper burial after they died, it is now time to do the same thing with the old upright. I'm not trying to be sacrilegious, or uncaring, but pianos do have a life line, and when the end of the line is there, we, as piano technicians, need to be honest with the customer and tell her/him so. 


Wim

-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 2:04 pm
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Old upright







This is a case of me wanting to tell the client to burn the piano and look for something better, BUT, it has a lot of sentimental value.? And there is really no way of telling 100% if the pinblock is cracked, unless I destring and remove the plate, is that right?


TODD PIANO WORKS 
Matthew Todd, Piano Technician 
(979) 248-9578

http://www.toddpianoworks.com


--- On Mon, 4/6/09, David Boyce <David at piano.plus.com> wrote:

From: David Boyce <David at piano.plus.com>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Old upright
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Monday, April 6, 2009, 11:33 PM








Hmm, well I can tell you what's NOT a good idea and that's the metal tuning pin "sleeves" sold for the purpose by suppliers!? Using larger pins might work, as might sandpaper shim or veneer shim. But it partly depends on what's going on in the pinblock. If there is a crack thrugh several layers of lamination, for example, that's causing a line of pins to be slack, using shims may only force the crack wider.? CA might be a good idea. an easy fix if it works. Can be done without putting the piano on its back, but maybe not feasible if coils touching bushing.

?

Best regards,

?

David.

?

?

>I tuned an old upright today.? About half a dozen or so of the pins were untunable.? When I released my hand from the hammer, the pin jumped back down and the tone >went considerably flat.

?

>What would be a temporary fix here?? Would changing those pins with a size or two higher be a temporary remedy?? The coils are already touching the bushing, so I >guess tapping the pins would not be a good idea.

?

>Any thoughts please?












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