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<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>I have to agree with you,
Terry.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>When I was in the Navy, I would go on the courses,
then when on the ship, I was on my own.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>The books and theory instructions, only give you
the information. It is when you are faced with the problem, and put the
classroom/book knowledge into practice, that you really
learn.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>If some one is leading you step by step, it does
not sink in, as much as you figuring out, and yes even making mistakes, by
doing.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>John M. Ross<BR>Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada<BR><A
href="mailto:jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca">jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca</A></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=mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">Farrell</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, February 21, 2007 3:30
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: grand damper problem</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A number of responses have suggested that John
seek the help of a more experienced piano technician. Whereas I do agree that
is the optimal way to go, IMHO, anyone with good mechanical inclinations that
has some experience with common tools and building and taking apart things
should be able to cautiously approach this problem. I'm probably sticking my
neck out here, but as long as the John realizes that he'll have to fix (or pay
to have fixed) anything he goofs up - and we are talking a LOWREY (not lovely)
grand (I didn't know they made grands....sigh....) - and he does know the
owner - I say go ahead, it should be good experience. He says he is learning
piano technology - I guess I'm assuming that he has at least read about how to
remove/replace a grand action.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>IMHO, I think that often technicians are too
afraid to dig into a new problem. Pianos are mechanical gizmos. You aren't
going to kill it. If you do something stupid it may cost you a bunch of $$,
but most anything can be fixed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now don't dig blindly into a new Fazioli and the
local concert venue........ We're talkin' Lowreys and Kimballs
here!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've never had the luxury of having any sort of
mentor to show me the way (except for the billion PTG classes and things I
have attended). Not all of us have those opportunities.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I just spent all day yesterday doing a full
action regulation on a grand piano that I did a bunch of other work to also
(action "refurbish", bass strings, etc.). Got $2,200 for the job. That barely
covered the cost of all the new action parts that I also installed after my
dog ate the original parts (Mmmmmm - things with leather and hide glue -
Mmmmmmmmmmmm-Yummmmmy!). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There she is tasting...... I mean helping me with
another piano.......</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><IMG alt="" hspace=0
src="cid:001501c7560a$94164e60$9f00a8c0@owner94c158a67" align=baseline
border=0></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Maybe that's a different brand of stupid, but the
point is, as long as the tech is willing to make it right, even at a loss, I
would encourage a tech to dig into something s/he may not have experience
with, but thinks they should be able to do it okay. I mean read about it
first, prep for it, but don't be too afraid to try it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Flame suit buttoned up very,
very tight.....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>SNIP<BR>> Ultimately you need
colleagues. I'm yet to learn of a "solo" technician who has the range
and level of skills of technicians who share ideas with other
technicians.<BR>> <BR>> Ed
Sutton</FONT></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>