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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Wait, wait, wait a minute. How is changing out a
plastic or ivory veneer that is damaged with a slightly thicker and stronger one
ruining a keyset? The fact that .030 or .040 of wood is removed
to provide a new glue surface and to retain original or to optimize a key
height hardly sounds like a violation of our code of ethics. There are all kinds
of different keytop materials to choose from out there, each with it's own
method of retrofitting, and each applicable to different pianos in different
environments for people of different tastes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fenton</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=jpdraine@gmail.com href="mailto:jpdraine@gmail.com">J Patrick
Draine</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> Saturday, August 09, 2008 7:27
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: keytop planer</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>Hmmm, I think you will find there is a middle ground between,
say, charging 100% markup on the most expensive/highest quality subcontracted
work (plus yr. hourly rate for pickup shipping and reinstallation), and "ruin
the keys and do the job myself." There are reasonably priced vendors out
there, appropriate for even Poole spinets. Achieving an acceptable result
takes a lot of practice and craftsmanship.
<DIV>As it says on the back of your PTG membership card:</DIV>
<DIV>"2. I will render the best possible service under the circumstances,
always keeping the best interests of my client in mind.</DIV>
<DIV>"3. I will engage only in fair trade practices in the knowledge that I am
reflecting the honesty and integrity for which the Piano Technicians Guild
stands."</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Patrick Draine RPT</DIV>
<DIV>sub-contracting my keytop work since my first 2-3 keytop jobs decades
ago<BR><BR>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>On Sat, Aug 9, 2008 at 8:35 AM, Matthew Todd <SPAN
dir=ltr><<A
href="mailto:toddpianoworks@att.net">toddpianoworks@att.net</A>></SPAN>
wrote:<BR>
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<DIV>Well, you know, there is a difference between a Steinway and a Poole
spinet, am I right?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Besides, most of my customers would rather have their keys gone for 3
to 4 days, rather than 3 to 4 weeks!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If this were a high quality piano, then yes, I would probably contract
the work. If it is a Poole spinet, or some 100 year old junker, then
yes, I would ruin the keys and do the job myself. If someone
professionally down the road wants to put sheet plastic on that same piano,
I'm sure they can do it. Besides, I will be long gone.</DIV>
<DIV class=Ih2E3d>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Matthew</DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>