<HTML><HTML> In a message dated 9/25/05 8:44:08 PM, rfinley@rcn.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE CITE STYLE="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px" TYPE="CITE">Maybe there will be a= broken part that cannot be repaired, and a new one has to be ordered (if it= is even possible to get replacement parts </BLOCKQUOTE> Chances are, if something is actually broken,  it's a jack, hammer sha= nk, or key.  The key or the jack can be glued back together, and there= are 'universal' shanks that will undoubtedly fit the broken shank.  I= 'm not familiar with Estey, but I suspect that new replacement parts could b= e ordered if necessary.  More likely, however, is that something merely needs adjusting.  Perha= ps a damper wire has come loose and the damper won't lift when the key is st= ruck making the note 'dead'.  Or the backcheck is holding the hammer t= ail in place and won't allow it to ascend to the string.  The lesson to be learned here, though, is to get as much information as you = can.  I always ask,  "Does the key stay in the down position?"&n= bsp; If it does, it could be a coin stuck between that key and its neighbor= , or a broken plastic elbow if it's a spinet.  "Does it play the first= time but then won't repeat?"  Could be sluggish action centers and a = little CLP will solve the problem.  It gives me a little head start on= what to expect when I get there---and how much time to allow for the repair= . Sometimes you can diagnose the problem right over the phone!  Just yes= terday, I got a call from a woman who wanted her piano tuned, and also, ther= e were four or five notes that were 'broken' on her console piano.  I = asked her, "Are they all in a row, next to each other?"  She answered = "Yes".  I told her it was probably a pencil stuck in there.  She= said, incredulously, like I must be stupid, "A pencil?"  I told her, = "You'd be surprised how often pencils find their way into pianos."  Sh= e looked inside right then while she was still on the phone, and said, "I do= n't see anything....wait, I feel it!"  She pulled out the pencil and s= aid, "Oh, you're good!" So many people let their piano go untuned for years until something 'breaks'= .  Luckily, she's going to have me over to tune the piano anyway, even= though it now works fine. Tom Sivak Chicago P.S. I guess I spent years learning this kind of stuff and should charge her $250= for that over-the-phone repair, eh?  I could even guarantee the repai= r for 8 years to rationalize my charging her for it!  (Sorry...sometim= es I just can't stop myself...) </HTML>