<!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=#ff0000>Comments below:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <DIV> <SPAN id=__#Ath#SignaturePos__></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV>----- Original Message ----- <DIV>From: <<A href="mailto:kam544@gbronline.com">kam544@gbronline.com</A>></DIV> <DIV>To: "Pianotech" <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>></DIV> <DIV>Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 11:17 AM</DIV> <DIV>Subject: Re: Choosing to Condemn</DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>> >... I don't even play, ... I don't like 15 year old = Kimball <BR>> >consoles. But gosh, they play and sound like a dream = compared to the <BR>> >old beaters. Think also about how discouraging it would = be to play <BR>> >the old beater every day - especially for the = youngster taking <BR>> >lessons.<BR>> ><BR>> >Well, probably more than = my 2 cents worth.<BR>> ><BR>> >Terry Farrell<BR>> <BR>> Terry,<BR>> <BR>> To qualify my following comments, I am not = speaking of basket cases <BR>> or derelict pianos, but pianos in reasonable = working order needing <BR>> some attention.<BR>> <BR>> While I liked some of = your ideas in making determinations, in my mind <BR>> your comments above = here tend to negate one's ability to even <BR>> consider make such = decisions. Maybe you didn't mean to say that, but <BR>> to not play the piano = seems to negate one's ability to know if one <BR>> type of piano plays better = than another.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>If I am not mistaken, wasn't there a PTG = survey done a few years back that reported that 40% of PTG members do not play = piano? I could be wrong, but I think I heard that. Anyone? If true, I'd hate = to think that 40% of techs can't tell if one piano plays well = and another plays poorly.</FONT><BR> <BR>> Such a generalized statement as, = "... 15 year old Kimball consoles <BR>> play and sound like a dream compared = to old beaters." seems kind of <BR>> an unrealistic, especially since you, = yourself, have qualified you <BR>> don't even play.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>Only having been in this business for 4 years = now, I am certainly still on the steep end of the learning curve. And I definitely = do not play piano. I could not even play Jingle Bells (well, maybe after practicing a few hours). I took organ lessons when I was a kid. But = I have been banging on pianos for 4 years - I can run up and down the keyboard = doing various scales and such - I think you get a feel for the keys after = a while. I think my ability (and likely most others with a similar background) to distinguish between a good concert prep on a good piano = and a fair concert prep on the same piano is probably close to non-existent. = And I would say a large part of that is because I am not a good = player. But my ability to distinguish between and make recommendations regarding a very good condition 15 year old console and a = typically worn out 85 year old upright - well, let's just say it ain't rocket = science.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>I think it is always an asset to be able to = play piano for the tech. But I have met quite a few very accomplished techs = that do not play. I think it can be a bit like being blind - you learn other = ways to do or feel the same thing.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>Also, I think the area of piano technology = one specializes in weighs in on the benefits of playing. Again, playing = will always be an asset. But I suspect playing would be more important to the = concert tech than to the rebuilder.</FONT><BR> <BR>> In my opinion = learning to play the piano to some degree is a must to <BR>> increase one's = awareness concerning such matters as to advising what <BR>> someone else should = do in their life with their piano needs.<BR>> <BR>> There are some older = uprights that play and sound just fine, and it <BR>> would be fool = hardy to replace them unnecessarily just because they <BR>> might need some = repairs, with a smaller entry level type console that <BR>> can in some = situations fall well short of the mark.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>Absolutely. That's why I specified "old = beaters". I tuned a 1908 Pfiefer upright this morning and a 1971 S&S M (original = owner) this afternoon. In every category, the upright would blow the bushings = off the Steinway. (It was also the absolute nicest old upright I have ever seen = - condition was that of a well cared for 20 year old quality piano). And I = did "condemn" a 1960 Story & Clark console this morning. Someone poured something on the tuning pins and string felt that made all the string = super rusty. About 25% of the strings were already broke and the tuning pins = were loose. Time this console met its maker. I didn't even have to play this one.</FONT><BR><BR>> Also, there are numerous youngsters that are = learning every day on <BR>> "old beaters", that are incredible players and = just love playing what <BR>> they have, and would be sorely disappointed and discouraged with a <BR>> small console.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>Yes, and I'm sure somewhere there is a Nobel = Peace Prize winner that grew up in poverty in an abusive home, bla, bla, = bla. Just my opinion then, but any very good condition console will be better = to play than an old beater upright with bobbling hammers, tubby bass strings, = zinging dampers (if they work at all), super inconsistent tone from note to = note, etc. That's all I'm trying to say. Nothing too earth shattering here I should = think.</FONT><BR><BR>> There are no hard and fast rules when it comes = to the needs of <BR>> individual families and their pianos. Evaluation of = such things is a <BR>> tender mercy.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>Absolutely.</FONT><BR><BR>> Keith = McGavern<BR>> Registered Piano Technician<BR>> Oklahoma Chapter 731<BR>> Piano Technicians Guild<BR>> USA<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> pianotech list = info: <A href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">http://www.ptg.org= /mailman/listinfo/pianotech</A></DIV></BODY></HTML>