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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#215868'>John:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#215868'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#215868'>I’ve seen bass strings
with the windings on the bridge before. I found one where those “repairs”
were done in a store and the piano sold to a customer who called me about the bad
sound. (I think they accidentally left their ears at home the day they
purchased it!) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#215868'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#215868'>Now that all of us have some
kind of camera (phone) with us all the time we should all collaborate on a “Dante’s
Illustrated Book of Creative Repairs”. It’s really kind of
gruesome what’s out there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#215868'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#215868'>dave<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#215868'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;
color:#215868'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;
color:#215868'>David M. Porritt, RPT<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;
color:#215868'><a href="mailto:dporritt@smu.edu"><span style='color:blue'>dporritt@smu.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#215868'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>John
Formsma<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:25 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Pianotech List<br>
<b>Subject:</b> horrid "repairs"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>"Tuned" a Wurlitzer studio yesterday. It had
been "taken care of for years" by a piano tooner, who was known for
poor work. He is in failing health, so they called me.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal>Of the 48 bass strings, only 11 were originals. All
the rest were universals, and many obviously the wrong size. I'm guessing
none of them were ever measured with a micrometer. (Can you imagine how it
sounded?)<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal>Look at the nice bass string replacement in the attached
photo (Image018.jpg).<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal>There was also another weird "repair." Two
big blocks of hammer felt and one 5/8" dowel were shoved between the back
posts and the ribs of the soundboard. I'm assuming an attempt to
introduce crown. ??? I didn't get a picture of that because of poor
light, and only having my cell phone camera. I just left that alone
because I didn't want to deal with any unforeseen hassle that might ensue upon
removal, and because the piano is toast anyway. (Loose tuning pins, needs
hammer flange repinning, worn hammers, etc.)<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal>Also attached is a photo (of a different piano) that I
snapped some time ago. (Image011.jpg)<br clear=all>
<br>
-- <br>
JF <o:p></o:p></p>
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