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<DIV><FONT size=2>More obvious than not the constant "close =
to 100%
humidity" compounded with salt air is causing major havoc on these =
pianos.
They would probably require at least a day's work every six months to =
remain
simi-playable. Their attitude toward maintenance sounds verbatim =
of what
it's like in Las Vegas hotels. Spend a billion dollars on a =
hotel/casino,
by a piano, forget about it until the legs fall off. They get =
regular
tuning, sometimes twice a week, but could care less how many spilled =
drinks and
cigarette ashes are in them, how flat the hammers are, how out of =
regulation
they are, how beat up they are from constant moving, etc. =
Sometimes they
give you an opportunity to do SOME work only if the pianist =
regularly
complains and begs, but pulling the action and taking it to the shop for =
a few
days is out of the question.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The MGM is the worst, (that I am currently aware =
of).
</FONT><FONT size=2>The policy is that they will not replace any =
durable
good unless their accountants can ascertain that the
item will pay for itself within a five year period, (i.e. =
the
profits gained from it's use must be able to cover the replacement =
cost in
five years), few exceptions. Just a hint: The current pianos =
are now
about 8+ years old and terrible.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I think your only hope in this case is to =
professionally
present yourself to the company's entertainment department chief and =
detail your
findings. Present a rehearsed argument as to why the =
work is
necessary given the replacement cost of the instrument, (and when it =
comes down
to it, longevity and replacement costs are what they are most interested =
in). If you can present them with some long term expense figures, =
possibly
even some maintenance recommendations in a letter directly from =
Steinway, you
might be able to wedge a crowbar into their wallets.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Good luck,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Rob Goodale, RPT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Las Vegas, NV</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><major snip></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>What I can't understand is how a piano can get to 4 years old in =
a
situation where it is played constantly and still not be stable in the =
above
area. What have I missed.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>No I did not do the other pianos or do more work on the main one, =
reason,
they only want the pianos tuned and that's all they will pay for. =
Doing the
extra was for my benefit. Still learning. But, I am annoyed that I =
can't do my
job as I want to.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Regards</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Tony Caught<BR>Darwin Australia</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>