<html>
<head>
<style>
.hmmessage P
{
margin:0px;
padding:0px
}
body.hmmessage
{
FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma
}
</style>
</head>
<body class='hmmessage'>
Yes, some of these Ebay pianos are not so bad but some are far out of discussion to tune. On the other hand: not all pianos from someone who wants to get rid of it are bad. Sometimes I get calls from people who want to donate me their instrument and sometimes it΄s a really good deal. It΄s not a must that these pianos are completely worn out. I have some pianos in my clientele which are from 1880 or so. Some of these were completely rebuilt 50 years or so ago. I never tune these pianos up to 440 Hz. Someone who plays on such an old instrument is usualy not a concert pianist nor a member of any music ensemble, just a home player who enjoys to play sometimes for himself. So, no need for 440 Hz. Sometimes I am really amazed about the decent condition of some of these very old pianos. One factor might be the very stable climate that we have here in Germany.<br><br>Gregor<br><br><blockquote><hr>From: thetuner@ivories52.com<br>To: pianotech@ptg.org<br>Subject: RE: not too much badmouthing please<br>Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:11:04 -0700<br><br>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=unicode">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft SafeHTML"><title>Message</title>
<style>
</style>
<div><span class="EC_531284304-26042008"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" 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="EC_531284304-26042008"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"></font></span> </div>
<div><span class="EC_531284304-26042008"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" 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 border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="300">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><br>
<div style="border-top: 3px double rgb(253, 211, 135); border-bottom: 3px double rgb(253, 211, 135); padding-left: 14px; font-size: 0.7em; padding-bottom: 8px; color: rgb(121, 77, 55); padding-top: 8px; font-family: verdana;">
<strong>Geoff Sykes, RPT</strong><br> <strong>626-799-7545</strong><br>
<a href="http://www.ivories52.com/" target="_blank">www.ivories52.com</a>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 0px;">
<div></div>
<div class="EC_OutlookMessageHeader" dir="ltr" align="left" lang="en-us"><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="border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px;">
<div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="background: rgb(228, 228, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>From:</b>
<a title="l-bartlett@sbcglobal.net" href="mailto:l-bartlett@sbcglobal.net">Leslie Bartlett</a> </div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>To:</b> <a title="pianotech@ptg.org" href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> </div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 25, 2008 9:06
PM</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>Subject:</b> not too much badmouthing
please</div>
<div><br></div>
<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><BR>
<font face="Arial" size="2">les bartlett</font>
<BR></blockquote></blockquote>
</blockquote><br /><hr />Get news, entertainment and everything you care about at Live.com. <a href='http://www.live.com/getstarted.aspx ' target='_new'>Check it out!</a></body>
</html>