<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> You of course have a right to your considered opinion. As do we all. But I will reply point for point so you might understand that fact that there are folks like me who do not aggree with this approach.. (at least to the degree you may) is not a bad thing either. Frank Cahill wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE>Richard and John, what do you do when someone can't afford a new piano?  Despite the fact that I live in  perhaps the most affluent part of the USA, not everyone has the money for a new piano.  When the home is modest and so are its contents, it's a good bet that a new piano is out of the question.</blockquote> I tell them to save for a piano and make other arrangements in the meantime. Most often enough, if it really is a priority, folks will find a to afford a entry level instrument. I do not accept the poverty line of agurmentation... ok ?? <blockquote TYPE=CITE>  In most cases, these people had to scrimp to get the junk that they have!!!!!</blockquote> Baloney.. this is the exception not the rule, and a good critical look at other properties often enough bear this out. In such real cases.. I understand the dilema and do indeed attempt to help out. But in most cases, folks just dont want to spend any more then they think they absolutely have to. <blockquote TYPE=CITE>  I have no problem with the CA fix.  People are happy that I can buy them some time. I tell them it is a Band-Aid, and may only last a few years. I tell them that the piano is at the end of it's useful life...no lies, just the truth. Then it's the customer's decision.</blockquote> I do have a problem with the CA fix. It works only a certain percent of the time, and often enough creates a problem of its own. Buying folks some time is well enough if there is a serious need for time, and a serious desire for to work towards getting an acceptable instrument. But this most often is not the case. I too tell them that the piano is at the end of its usefull life, and tho the customer has the choice of persuing the matter.. I also have the choice of working on the piano or not. I choose not too in 95 % of the cases. <blockquote TYPE=CITE>  Does this hurt the industry? NO!  Look at it this way. If these people cannot afford a new piano and the junker can't be fixed, they will not be playing ANY piano. There goes another future purchaser of a new piano.  What is important is to get these folks playing. In time, they will upgrade. I've seen it more than once.</blockquote> I take issue with this. It does and has clearly hurt the industry, tho admitedly it is hard to document this. Still I have no doubt in my mind about the truth of this. The last 50 years has seen great strides in the piano industry to be sure... it has also seen the advent of unmitigated blatant garbage passed off as pianos on the public. It does not help the public to be informed that this stuff "isnt so bad really".. or "we can paste it together", or the like <blockquote TYPE=CITE>  I feel that I am doing these folks a big favor.</blockquote> And I would feel that I would doing these folks a disservice by going along with such repairs. <blockquote TYPE=CITE>  Would I perform this repair on a quality grand? NO! But I don't hesitate on a cheap vertical. This fix has always worked for me.</blockquote> We aggree on the grand thing, but I very rarely would consider bothering with "cheap" (your words) verticals that are shot. And if the fix "always works" for you... then why is this not something to be used on quality grands ?? the fact is that you yourself obviously see something about this "fix" that makes you not consider it good enough for quality grands. I simply draw the line a bit farther down the ladder. <blockquote TYPE=CITE>I realize that some techs work ONLY on grands. I can't be that selective.  Most of my clients are beginning pianists with very low-end pianos. They almost always say "this is good enough for a beginner. If she/he keeps playing, I want to get a better piano."</blockquote> Well, I cannot be quite that selective either, and I am not one of these "Steinway only" kind of guys. (Tho they have their positive place as well). Beginning pianists perhaps more then anyone have most to benifit from being able to play on a reasonably well functioning, decent condition piano. Many a beginner has become frustrated and given up thinking that they havent enough talent, when the fact is that the piano is at fault. But this is a subject matter in itselft perhaps worthy of its own thread. <blockquote TYPE=CITE>As for myself, there is no way I'd buy my 9 yr old a new piano if I could fix it with CA...not if she were just starting.  In truth, she has been playing about 4 or 5 years, and I just purchased a new KAWAI vertical to replace my 80 yr old STEIFF.</blockquote> grin... who is the "she" we are suddenly talking about. ?? Kawai pianos are ok enough. Nothing wrong with an 80 year old Steiff either if it is in ok enough condition. <blockquote TYPE=CITE>Just some opposing thoughts gentlemen.Gotta keep people thinking. Thanks for your time.  </blockquote> Frank.. and others... dont misunderstand me... This line we each draw is not so easy to establish, yet each of us do. I certainly respect your argumentation from your own standpoint, and as long as you execute your work and continuing learning process in the sincere desire to improve the condition of a piano then you will have only my respect, in spite of our dissagreement on such matters. But there are several sides to this question, and addmitadly there are pros and cons in what ever choice we end up with. Still, it is my experience and opinion, that such work in most cases in the whole and by and large.. does more harm then good. The poverty issue not-withstanding. So I choose to be an influence in the way I  feel I can contribute the most with. And hey... besides...grin.. Other techs end up getting a lot of work thrown their way because of guys like me.. really... everybody should be happy with this arrangment if you ask me. In any case.. this is not a matter of snobishness or the like. I dont look "down" on folks choosing to approach pianos as you say you do. Quite the opposite really,, Richard Brekne I.C.P.T.G.  N.P.T.F. Bergen, Norway</html>