<!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 6.00.2800.1264" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#800000>And then there is the one area = where pianos and cars are dissimilar - performance. Most (as in 99+%) car drivers = view the car as utilitarian - "I need this car to get me here in one piece = without a lot of hassle". Many (some/whatever) piano players are performance-oriented = - at least many more than are car drivers. That is they have a greater = interest in their piano working very well - sounding super-good - playing smooth and = controllable - again, at least more so than the typical car driver. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#800000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#800000>Although, the piano and the RACE = car would be quite comparable in this manner. (And yes, unfortunately there are = many pianos that serve a utilitarian role exclusively - I think of the beat-to-$%&* Samick grand I tuned the other day at a big hotel......)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#800000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#800000>I guess what I am trying to say = is that typical car performance is more black-and-white, while piano performance = has many more shades of grey. When you get a new water pump put on your car, = the thing is either quiet and leak free, or it is not. When you get a new = set of hammers or bass strings put on your piano, well, I think you can see = this now - just quite a few more shades of grey!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#800000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#800000>My 2 cents worth (maybe less)....</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#800000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#800000>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: "Conrad Hoffsommer" <</FONT><A = href="mailto:hoffsoco@martin.luther.edu"><FONT face=Arial size=2>hoffsoco@martin.luther.edu</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To: <</FONT><A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"><FONT face=Arial size=2>pianotech@ptg.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial = size=2>></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 7:18 AM</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Subject: Automotive analogies</FONT></DIV></DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> <BR>> = > > Hello List<BR>> > > It's a funny thing how often I find myself = likening something to do with<BR>> > > pianos to something to do with = cars. Why is this I wonder? At least it's<BR>> >not<BR>> > > = Religion or Politics!<BR>> > > Regards from a darkening Sussex<BR>> > = > Michael G (UK) T.G.I.F.<BR>> > ><BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Oh, Michael,<BR>> <BR>> This is too easy. Many and varied are the links/comparisons which can be made.<BR>> <BR>> - Cars and pianos = are in the same price ranges - both new and used<BR>> <BR>> - There have = been so many makes and models made over the years that making <BR>> a good = decision concerning the purchase of a used or antique one requires <BR>> the inspection/assessment of same by a qualified = mechanic/technician.<BR>> <BR>> - Both are complex mechanical devices which give their owners = great <BR>> pleasure when they are running right, great frustration if they = are not and <BR>> require experts to service either correctly.<BR>> = <BR>> - most people have some basic idea of how a car works and have dealt with = <BR>> maintenance issues. Making valid comparisons helps the customer relate = to <BR>> the piano and it's maintenance.<BR>> <BR>> - when a piano = needs to have hammers replaced, it is easy to compare with <BR>> getting = new ti(y)res.  When they want to put new hammers on a moribund <BR>> = piano you can point out how long tires last on a car that won't start or = <BR>> transmission is shot.<BR>> <BR>> - action work is like a = transmission adjustment or overhaul, depending on <BR>> the extent of work required.<BR>> <BR>> - when the customer asks if it is worth rebuilding/refinishing their <BR>> Naugawurlie/Lindner/Winter, you = can compare that to restoring a Yugo/Fiat <BR>> 1100/Rambler. You surely = could improve on the original a little, but it'll <BR>> never be a Packard/Jaguar/Bentley.<BR>> <BR>> - I don't play the piano very = well. When people ask how I can work on <BR>> pianos but not play well, I = say that I'm like a race car mechanic. I may be <BR>> able to drive the thing = around the track, but my job is to prepare the car <BR>> so that the driver = can race it.  After the driver takes a lap or two and <BR>> comes back = making this or that comment, I can tweak the beastie to do what <BR>> the = driver needs (or say why something _can't_ be done ;-).<BR>> <BR>> Etc., = etc., etc....<BR>> <BR>> Others on this list could surely add many = similar similies.<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Regards from the cornfields of Iowa, = sleeping under a fresh blanket of snow.<BR>> Conrad = Hoffsommer<BR>> Decorah, IA<BR>> <BR>> - Certified Calibration Technician for = Bio-powered Digitally Activated <BR>> Lever Action Tone Generation = Systems.<BR>> - Pianotech Flamesuit Purveyor<BR>> - Apprentice Curmudgeon<BR>> = <BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> pianotech list = info: </FONT><A href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives"><FONT = face=Arial size=2>https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</FONT></A><BR><FON= T face=Arial size=2>> </FONT></BODY></HTML>