<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16608" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><SPAN class=531284304-26042008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Ahh, our fear of anticipated horrors. I recently got a call from a young couple who had recently picked up a Premier b-Grand, c 1920, for free from "someone that wanted to get rid of it." My first instinct was to run. But, I dunno, it was a slow week or something. I took the gig. When I showed up the husband had just finished stripping and refinishing the entire piano. Very professionally actually, and while it was in the living room of their apartment. OK, it was covered with brush strokes, but the job was shiny and black and otherwise quite well done. And he was careful not to paint over things like tuning pins and strings, and the seal he unknowingly painted across the keyslip and cheek blocks was very easy to slice through and I was still able to pull the action out without destroying his work. On the fallboard he had very elegantly painted his wife's name in red script as the NEW name of the piano. How could I NOT put some effort into this piano. Long story short, after an afternoon of cleaning out the years of accumulated filth, replacing several broken strings, lots of screw and action work, and even with the top octave and a half hammers worn down to the wood, they were ecstatic at the results. And she is a very accomplished player. Yes, they know it's junk. Yes, they know it's only temporary until they can afford a real one. But until then it's the best piano in the world to this young newlywed couple. They didn't blink at my bill and I was more than happy to take their check, without discount. I left with an immense feeling of satisfaction for a job well done. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=531284304-26042008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=531284304-26042008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Nevertheless, every time I get a call to work on a free, eBay or Craigslist acquired piano I fear what I'm going to find. Mostly it's crap and I'm quickly and happily out of there with a minimum service call fee. But sometimes, like above, it's a very rewarding experience. I love this job. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=300 border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD><BR> <DIV style="BORDER-TOP: #fdd387 3px double; PADDING-LEFT: 14px; FONT-SIZE: 0.7em; PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px; COLOR: #794d37; PADDING-TOP: 8px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #fdd387 3px double; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; align: left">• <STRONG>Geoff Sykes, RPT</STRONG><BR>• <STRONG>626-799-7545</STRONG><BR>• <A href="http://www.ivories52.com/">www.ivories52.com</A> </DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>mccleskey112@bellsouth.net<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, April 25, 2008 7:57 PM<BR><B>To:</B> l-bartlett@sbcglobal.net; Pianotech List<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: not too much badmouthing please<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Les: Sometimes I have sweated a job that I thought was going to be a horror show and find out that the dread was wasted. Sometimes the instrument is in good shape and near standard pitch. I am learning to assume nothing (notice I said learning) until I actually do the inspection. Good luck. And don't sweat it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Gerald McCleskey</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=l-bartlett@sbcglobal.net href="mailto:l-bartlett@sbcglobal.net">Leslie Bartlett</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> Friday, April 25, 2008 9:06 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> not too much badmouthing please</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <P><FONT face=Arial size=2>I got an email from some girl who actually as paid money for an upright piano she says is about 125 years old……………………..   I don't know WHY she did this, but I somehow expect that "it looked so quaint and like an antique".   She wishes me to actually attempt to tune the thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  What have I done to deserve this?   Anyhow, assuming (and I can't even find a comment for that) it is tuneable, can it be brought up to 440, or would one at all costs keep the pitch significantly lower.   I'm praying it will fall off a truck in the move, but fear I might have to face it.  So, without making me pay too much  for this obvious reward of past sins, a bit of help, please?  I'm scared already, and have been blessed not to see it to date………</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Arial size=2>les bartlett</FONT> </P></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>