[pianotech] Broken plate

[phil at emvkeys.ca]

Valuable information all, and now I have knot in my stomach...

I tuned my 94th piano on Tuesday morning - a Quidoz from Quebec built by 
Willis - I pointed out a lot of issues with the pinblock to the customer 
- cracks in front (top) lamination, laminations obviously separating, 
plate coming away from the pinblock - I did inform the owner that a 
stable tuning wasn't a reasonable expectation in the short term, maybe 
never without pinblock treatment or repair/replacement. I also pointed 
out that the piano had at sometime been "rebuilt & refinished" (in a 
manner) - a surprise to the owner, he thought is was new when they 
purchased it in '92, stunned when I explained that is was built prior to 
'66. I explained that the cost of pinblock replacement, full regulation 
and other repairs would easily exceed the replacement value of this 
particular piano.

Piano was 30- 45 cents flat. I gently snugged up what plate bolts I 
could get to and proceeded to pitch raise and tune. I had to pound in a 
few pins that wouldn't hold, but I got all the way through with no 
catastrophe. It was actually playable (I use the term loosely here) 
compared to when I found it but it certainly needs a lot more work to 
make it sound and play its best.

This piano is the size and make which Allan Sutton described and has the 
frightening indications John Ross noted.

Should I alarm this client with the prospect a plate failure? Or should 
I just leave well enough alone? I prefer to err on the side of integrity.

This greenhorn is grateful for any suggestions from his esteemed mentors.

Phil Manning





John Ross wrote:
> *Looking back, could you tell us any indicators,
> *
>
>
>
>     On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 8:07 PM, Allan <allan at sutton.net
>     <mailto:allan at sutton.net>> wrote:
>
>         It happened to me today,
>
>         This sound I will never forget.
>
>         This was a very small piano, built in the 60's (Willis La Ronde)
>

-- 

  /Artist Piano Care/
E X C E L L E N C E ~ F I N E LY  T U N E D 

web: www.artistpianocare.ca
    tel: 416-907-3562
    cel: 905-626-3727
   phil at artistpianocare.ca

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