<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT color=#008080>Comments below.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080> <SPAN id=__#Ath#SignaturePos__></SPAN> </FONT></DIV> <DIV>----- Original Message ----- <DIV>From: "David Andersen" <<A href="mailto:bigda@gte.net">bigda@gte.net</A>></DIV> <DIV>To: "Pianotech" <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>></DIV> <DIV>Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 7:43 PM</DIV> <DIV>Subject: Re: Renner Back Action</DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>> >I'm looking for two numbers. I need to zip (fast) out a = rebuild proposal <BR>> >on a 1973 Steinway L. Did the Teflon disease = progress to the back actions? <BR>> >I have never put in a new Renner Back = Action. I know there was a good <BR>> >guide presented in recent Journal = articles, which I will be reviewing. <BR>> >What is the cost of the Renner = Back Action? And about how many hours can <BR>> >be anticipated by an experienced tech (not that that has anything to do <BR>> >with me, = but it is useful for calculating fees) to install the Renner Back <BR>> >Action.<BR>> ><BR>> >Thanks.<BR>> ><BR>> = >Terry Farrell<BR>> <BR>> Dude.....slow way, way, down.  Step away = from the computer.  You are <BR>> letting yourself in for the = biggest,<BR>> most nightmarish Murphy's experience you could ever imagine with this = '73 <BR>> beast.  Email Steve Bellieu, my shop partner and a list = member, about our <BR>> '70's Steinway horror stories.  Talk to Dale Erwin.  You're biting off <BR>> way, way more than you can = chew.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080>Can you state some general examples of the = problems you have encountered?</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>>  And why are you doing this so fast?  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080>They asked me more than a year ago for a = proposal. I seem to never have time for these administrative tasks. I have been = playing telephone tag with them about a tuning appointment for several days now. = The secretary left a message yesterday and asked if I could tune = the piano at 2 pm this Friday (I can) and to please bring the proposal with me. So = I guess it is about time to do it. I have shop work booked up until next = Christmas, but no outside work after that. So I need the work.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><BR>> Competing bids? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080>Not that I am aware of. But I suppose they = may well check into that after they see my fees!</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>> You better add 30% of the total bid as an afterthought, = <BR>> or you'll get killed.  Familiar with change orders? YOU WILL BE = AFTER <BR>> THIS.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080>I am very familiar with change orders. I = don't like them. I have been writing proposals for complex jobs for 20+ years. = I can nearly always avoid a change order. I put enough in the estimate to = cover most surprises.</FONT><BR><BR>> Slow down. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080>Can't!</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>> Get some help.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080>Boy, if I could find some good help, I would = be all set! This list is certainly an asset.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>> May God have mercy on your soul.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080>Thank you. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008080>I'll bet, over the past three years since I = have had my shop, I have spent half that time doing non-billable tasks. These would = range from building the shop and fixtures itself, tools, tables, jigs, and you = name it. I have no doubt that so many things I am getting involved = in take me five times the amount of time that a more experienced tech would = need. I have no fear of running into something that is going to take me a lot of = time. I schedule my projects knowing that I'll run into all sorts of challenges. = I'm in this for the long run. I don't want to turn away from something because = it may not be as profitable as something else. I am finding that there is much = works out there. I prefer to do the type of work that interests me and = challenges me. If I run into a '70s Steinway backaction that is a real bugger and takes = me 50 or more hours to do properly, then rather than getting 50 hours of pay, = I get 50 hours of education. To spend 50 hour being educated would be a bonus for = me. I don't loose either way. Of course, I may decide to avoid it = next time.........</FONT><BR> <BR>> David Andersen<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> pianotech list = info: <A href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">http://www.ptg.org= /mailman/listinfo/pianotech</A></DIV></BODY></HTML>