<br><br> <div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 10:25 PM, Michelle Smith <<a href="mailto:michelle@smithpianoservice.com">michelle@smithpianoservice.com</a>> wrote:<br> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid"> <div lang="EN-US" vlink="purple" link="blue"> <div> <p>Hi all.  I have to admit that I'm pretty tired of old clunker pianos.  Hammers are shot, strings are beginning to break, parts are failing left and right, and the pinblock was done quite a while ago.  The problem is that many people in my area can't afford anything better and there's no one else in my county to work on these old pianos.  </p> <p> </p> <p>I'm curious how many of you refuse to work on clunkers anymore.  Every time I work on one I tell myself it is my last!  =)</p> <p> </p> <p>Best wishes,</p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black">Michelle Smith</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black">Smith Piano Service</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black">Bastrop, Texas</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></span></p> <p> </p></div></div></blockquote></div> <div>Hi Michelle,</div> <div> </div> <div>I have lived/worked in an area similar to yours for almost 40 years now. I do what the instrument needs, assuming the customer can afford it. The caveat to that is, I first ascertain what their use and expectations are, of the piano. Many times I want to do much more than the customer NEEDS to have done. </div> <div>We as techs forget that the customer is used to the poor playing qaulity of these pianos and if they are simply playing occasionaly for their own amazement. They don't want or need a concert ready instrument. </div> <div>Many times we need to lower our expectations to what the customer wants/can afford. Tune it, make all of the keys work then if they can afford it tweak that action so it plays a little better. I find very few of my customers with marginal pianos are concerned with tone, most are much more concerned with function! </div> <div>I have found it to be a tremendous learning experience that has stood me in good stead with my more discerning customers as my business has grown to include better pianos and a clientele with higher expectations<br> <br clear="all">Mike<br>-- <br>The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution.<br>- Bertrand Russell<br><br>Michael Magness<br>Magness Piano Service<br>608-786-4404<br><a href="http://www.IFixPianos.com">www.IFixPianos.com</a><br> email <a href="mailto:mike@ifixpianos.com">mike@ifixpianos.com</a> </div>