Hi David, I haven't seen the piano yet. The lady, the daughter of a fellow parishioner, learned of my business yesterday (Saturday) and said that she would call me after the weekend. Rest assured, though, that I'll give it a good 'once-over' before I start tuning. She also mentioned that the piano -- before she inherited it - hadn't been moved in several decades. It may, then, be an older Steinway. At any rate, I feel much less intimidated now and am looking forward to servicing it. Thanks for the insight! Tom -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Nereson Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 4:42 AM To: fg at floydgadd.com; pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Developing confidence - was Steinway Upright <<<<Thanks, Floyd. Unfortunately, most of what I get - as a 'newbie" technician - are cheaper and/or older pianos that don't seem to be worth the time of some older, more established technicians. My apologies and admiration, though, to those techs who DO spend quality time on these oft-neglected instruments. Tom >> Heck, I've been at this for 30 years and still most of the pianos I get are spinets and old uprights, spinets and old uprights. That's what most people own, at least around here. Or else the other techs already have all the clients with nice grands sewn up. I feel pleased if now and then I get even a decent console or small grand to tune. Those large grands and nicer full uprights are only 2% of the clientele, unless maybe you tune on Manhattan's upper East Side, Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, FL, Scarsdale, etc. --David Nereson, RPT << . . . . . >> << List: I was approached by a potential client who wanted me to tune her late grandmother's Steinway upright. It was recently moved from her grandmother's home to its present location and, regretfully, hasn't been tuned in many (read: more than ten) years. Of course I agreed, since I'm working hard to get my fledgling business off the ground, but then I remembered that a number of technicians in my limited experience had been less than complimentary of the Steinway upright due to its quirky nature during tuning. My inclination is to approach this tuning with no preconceptions but alarm bells are still insistently ringing in my head. Are there any pitfalls or booby traps that I should be aware of before attempting this daunting task? Your collective wisdom will be most appreciated. Tom Rhea Piano Service Tom Rhea, Jr., Technician >> Nah, it's just another piano, and no more daunting than any other. Go for it. Each one has its own feel in the pinblock, and each one has strings that render slightly differently, regardless of make. It may have pins that are "waving around in the breeze," as Newton Hunt used to put it, because of the lack of tuning pin bushings, but there are other pianos one can say the same thing about; you just have to find out by feel as to how to set the strings/pins. Now, there is one particular model of Steinway I've heard technicians curse, but I never run into them. Are you tuning an old old upright with double flanges or what? --David Nereson, RPT
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