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<DIV><SPAN class=890312602-09042004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Terry,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890312602-09042004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890312602-09042004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>Seems
like this happened to me a few years ago (not a Kincaid -Westbrook =
maybe?).
Because it was the first time I'd encountered this problem, I tried =
pitch
raise/tuning just to see, but it was no good.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890312602-09042004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890312602-09042004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff =
size=2>John
Formsma</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of</B> =
Farrell<BR><B>Sent:</B>
Thursday, April 08, 2004 5:04 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Junk Pianos - Sad Shopping
Story<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Went to tune a piano a few months =
back for a new
client. Two youngsters taking piano lessons. Old worn-out =
upright. Talked
her into junking the piano and buying a newer one. Gave her some =
guidance for
shopping. Told her I do pre-purchase piano inspections. I told her =
phone calls
are free.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You know where this is going, don't
you?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Got a call from her and the kid's =
piano teacher a
few weeks ago. They were looking at a little console that was for sale =
by a
local piano mover. They described it and I said what they described =
sounded
OK, but that I would need to inspect it to offer a firm opinion. She =
calls a
week or so ago, says she bought the piano, and we scheduled a
tuning.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I went there yesterday. Kincade =
(Kimball)
console. Open lid. Pinblock split away from all five vertical back =
posts.
About a quarter-inch separation. Piano is 75 to 125 cents =
flat.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I recommended she try to get her =
money back.
She said she signed an AS-IS purchase agreement. She paid $800 for =
this piece
of $#@&!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I recommended against tuning it. I =
suggested
there was a better-than even chance the tuning will not hold for long =
(hour?
day? week? month?) and that there is also the chance that raising the =
pitch
would accelerate the pinblock/frame migration, and even possibly put =
the
integrity of the plate at risk. I ultimately said that I was not =
comfortable
raising the pitch to A440.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Anyone want to offer an opinion on my =
recommendations? Just curious what YOU would have done.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I also told her that it could be =
repaired,
etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oh, and I also suggested that she =
call me next
time for an inspection BEFORE she buys another piano.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry
Farrell</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>