<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>HTML Message</TITLE> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1252"> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY style="BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none">Now THAT's funny! <IMG src="cid:laughing.gif@39037.4758224769.359"> Alan Barnard Salem, MO Joshua 24:15 ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: "Conrad Hoffsommer" <hoffsoco@luther.edu> To: pianotech@ptg.org Received: 11/16/2006 8:28:15 AM Subject: Powers of observation >Folks, >Years ago, when I was expounding on the reason I was teaching an intro >course on piano technology, I would use a typical phone conversation of a >prospective first time customer. In the course of the conversation, while >trying to get as much information as possible about both customer and >piano, I'd ask the make.  There would then usually be be a pause. In my >mind's eye I could see the customer peering around the corner at the piano >they've had for XX years... >My reasoning was/is; if they don't even know what has been visible just >three inches above their fingers, how much do you think they know about the >inside of the box? >Recently, I had my first e-mail equivalent: >>Conrad, do you tune non-Luther pianos?  If so, we'd be interested in >>hiring you to tune our piano.  It's a very good piano--only about 12 years >>old--but hasn't been tuned (I'm sorry to say) since we've come to >>Decorah!  If not, do you have anyone to recommend? We have heard that ____ >>is also good.  Thanks so much! >> > I certainly do. >> > Since I have this day job at a local college, (Note: we're both >> employees) I'm limited to late >> > afternoons and Saturdays.  Would mid-late afternoon Saturday the 18th >> > work? >>Late afternoon Nov 18 sounds great!  Thanks!  How much will we owe you--or >>does it depend on the amount of time you need to spend? >>>My basic tuning fee is $xx, but if it is as bad as it _could_ be after ?? >>>years, bringing it back up to pitch would be additional. > >>>>> Then, the killer question. <<<<< >>>BTW, what kind of piano is it? >>This is terrible, but I forget what kind of piano it is--Kawasaki, I think >>(I'll check!)--upright.  We have a humidistat in it; it's on an inside >>wall ; and our house is pretty well climate-regulated (good news)--but it >>has been moved twice since it was last tuned 7ish years ago(bad >>news).  Yes, I imagine you'll need to spend some time on it!  It does not >>SOUND out of tune, but it does have that "tinny" sound.  Thanks! >LATER: >>Our piano is a Yamaha, not Kawasaki! >>>I wudda lost a bet... I was guessing that it would be a Kawai. >>>;-} >>They all sound like motorcycles to me. >Hmmmmm... >Saturday should be interesting... ;-} >Good thing I'm a former owner of both Yamaha and Kawasaki motorcycles, yes? >Conrad Hoffsommer - Keyboard Technician >Luther College, 700 College Dr., Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045 >1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076 >- Right now, I'm hoping to live until my age matches my golf score, >- Until then, I'll have to be content to have my IQ match my handicap. >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.5.430 / Virus Database: 268.14.3/531 - Release Date: 11/12/2006 7:34 >PM </BODY></HTML>