<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1555" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hey Terry!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Great picture of the pooch!!! Now teach 'er how to tune and string!  I responded to John and realized (after reading the other responses) that I omitted the "paperclip from hell" or the need for a "pencilectomy"!  The key bushing recommendation that someone made was a good one-- never thought that a Lowrey grand could have been around so long (or in such a bad environment) that the bushings would be "toast". I've got a hideous Brambach in the shop that has keys with more movement than a hula dancer!  Obviously--- landfill, here we come!  Too bad, it's the only one I've ever met that actually had TIGHT tuning pins!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Keep smiling:)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Marshall Connolly</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></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=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 2:30 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:007501c75633$757a0400$90624045@falcone1132" 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>