<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2995" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>From my experience with inspecting new pianos for potential buyers, I would submit that "there may be problems that are not evident to either the buyer or seller" even with brand-new pianos. Like: major structural flaws such as cracked bridges, inverted soundboards, separating pinblocks, action geometry/weighting, etc., etc. I have done these inspections in stores with no troubles (sometimes I don't make any new friends in the piano industry!). And certainly, if I did have any relationship with the dealer (professional or otherwise), it would be appropriate to refer the inspection to another qualified piano technician.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=piannaman@aol.com href="mailto:piannaman@aol.com">piannaman@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 21, 2006 9:23 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Pramberger Grand</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Dave,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>While I'm not familiar with Prambergers, I've heard they are decent instruments.  Others on this list are undoubtedly more qualified to offer opinions on them.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I do get a fair amount of requests for advice about new pianos.  It can be sticky, especially if you get any business from the store that's doing the selling.  If I know something about the instruments in question, I will offer advice on the phone or e-mail, or say "yea" or "nay" to models I am familiar with.  My policy is to NOT go into stores to look at new pianos for customers because I don't want to have to:  a). tell untruths to a customer b). mess up a potential deal for someone who gives me a fair amount of referral business.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Used pianos are a different matter entirely.  There may be problems that are not evident to either the buyer or seller.  An evaluation by a qualified tech may save the customer many $ and headaches.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hope this helps,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV style="CLEAR: both">Dave Stahl<BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>