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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Terry et al,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Duh! I hadn't considered the =
antique car
analogy. And yes, you refine the argument well regarding hard =
parts vs.
soft parts. I would modify the argument to "wear-and-tear" parts =
and
"non-wear-and-tear" parts. Wear-and-tear parts are, by definition, =
intended to be replaced. They are expendable, like tires, belts, =
and hoses
in a car -- or electric brushes in motors -- or needles on =
Victrolas -- or
tubes in radios -- or paint on an old, Victorian house. Without =
the "wear
and tear" parts being replaced as needed, the antique becomes =
nonfunctional and
therefore less valuable.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Automobiles come with a manufacturer's =
recommended
maintenance schedule -- i.e. when to change belts, hoses, etc. How =
about
pianos? Has *anyone* drawn up any guidelines as to the average =
service
life of a hammer or damper felt? (If so, I'm sure it's less than =
100
years. This piano is 99 years old.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Anyway, my friend and I will be sending =
the piano
off to said young musician before too long. It will come with
my minimal recommendation for a set of Ray's hammers, dampers, =
several
new bass strings, a DC system, and CA'ing of several problem tuning =
pins. I also want to recommend a technician in her area -- Los
Angeles. (Sorry it's on the other side of the country, =
Terry!!) I
would do this work myself, except that I refuse to touch the piano =
again, after
she got her nose in the air that the last tuning wasn't done by a
*professional*. (I thought the tuning was pretty good. The =
Suzuki
violin teachers agreed, as it was their favorite in-home piano for =
accompanying
the children during lessons and recitals. Ah well...) =
Anyway, who
would y'all recommend in the Los Angeles area for this =
piano?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peace,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sarah</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>PS Sentimental value really *is* worth =
something
with this piano. It's the piano on which she learned (second
instrument) and started composing. She's bonded with it. =
It's a
karma thing to her, which is understandable.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">Farrell</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 16, =
2004 7:02
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: How do we tell =
customers
that the work done on theirpianosstinks?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I run into this quite often. I use =
the car
analogy to describe how pianos wear out. I also point out how pianos =
differ
from antique cars that are "all original". The reasons a
restored 1962 Corvette with all original parts and matching =
serial
numbers is worth anything is because there are not any cars made like =
them
anymore and mostly because there are many car clubs around where folks =
get
together and show off their cars, etc., etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A 1902 or a 1962 or a 2002 Steinway =
or Bechstein
or whatever uprights or grands don't look a whole lot different from =
one
another. There are no piano clubs/magazines, etc. that attracts =
antique piano
collectors, etc. An antique piano has no intrinsic value. The only way =
an
"antique" piano has any value is usually if Harry Truman or Glenn =
Gould owned
it, or maybe if it is very unusual in some unique way.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Then give them an appraisal of =
the wholesale
value of their piano: less than zero. Give them a retail value of =
their piano:
zero to $500 depending on cosmetics (does it have all the keytops) and =
whether
all the keys work.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>That usually does it. If they still =
don't believe
you, then perhaps they just need to hear the same thing from another =
qualified
technician.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now you need to focus on these =
original parts -
parts replacement. The "all original" restored 1962 Corvette has all =
its
original metal and fiberglass parts (not even that actually - it could =
have a
new alternator, etc., etc. - just the original "type") but all the
SOFT/ORGANIC parts have been replaced with new. The seat covers and =
radiator
hoses and brake lines are all new - they were not made by Chevrolet. =
The piano
is the same way. The "hard parts", i.e. the parts that don't wear out =
or
deteriorate on their own can stay - the case, plate, frame, keybed, =
etc. But
the SOFT/ORGANIC parts that wear need to be replaced if you want it to =
look/perform like new - hammers, action parts, strings (not soft or =
organic,
but you can replace with original type), soundboard
and whatever.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Only for a museum restoration is =
there any reason
to try and preserve everything in its original state. But keep in mind =
that is
done for historical preservation only - not to make something work for =
everyday use.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If that doesn't work. Walk away - its =
hopeless!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>BTW, IMHO those old Knabes are among =
the finest,
if not the finest, uprights ever built - premium remanufacturing =
stock!
Ya might even want to tell her you know someone in the
business....... ;-)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
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