<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Sunday Thoughts</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> Hey my colleagues------= Just thought I’d share a little from the last week.  I have a cl= ient, Don Beamsley, who has been a well-known and successful jazz player in = SoCal forever; he’s played with every big band around, from Tommy Dors= ey, Horace Heidt, Glenn Miller, Tex Beneke----the list is endless; he was ev= en the LA Dodger organist for a while in the 60’s and 70’s. So—he’s got a sweet Steinway B that he was given by his mentor,= a 1930 instrument. It was maintained throughout its life by mostly 2 legend= ary techs---first Cecil Short, the “man” in the Pomona Valley fo= r many years,a nd then by Norman Neblett, an LA denizen and Golden Hammer re= cipient.  I’ve been maintaining the piano for the last 18 years.<= BR> Anyway, you know the story---I’ve been nagging this guy for years to = do the work:  the piano’s got all original parts and strings, and= he’s always used the traditional procrastinating musician’s exc= uses: “ I just can’t pull the trigger now, DA---I can’t be= sure if I’ll work this strong next year, my wife’s gig stopped = this year, I need a new roof---”whatever. I’m a life-long musici= an; I’ve used them all. He is so sweet, and so funny, and such a monstrously beautiful player, and = I’m such a soft touch in a certain way, that I made it no problem, and= just kept bringing the damn Protek ( the verdigris was out of control on th= is pig). To make a long, long story very short, Don now has Class 3 Parkinson’= s Disease, has for 2 years, has lost 90 pounds, and his prognosis is delicat= e,  to put it mildly.  But he still rolls himself up to the piano = and plays for an hour or so every day. So a month ago I took his wife in the other room and just said now’s = the time, sweetie, for the bullshit to cease and for us to do something. &nb= sp;So---because her cash flow at this point is questionable, we opted for th= e battlefield triage: --Rebuilt keyframe: key bushing, underfelt, backchecks and wires, clean and= polish rail pins and captstans and glides, raise height and level keys --repinned shanks, “smoked-out” whippen flanges --new knuckles --rebuilt pedals and pedal mod --hammers filed (very difficult and dicey) --lift, level, seat strings --COMPLETE action regulation --RP and tune THANKS SO MUCH, MICHAEL CAMPI.  You did a great job on the keyframe, p= edals, knuckles and shanks. When I FINALLY got the damn thing playing “right---” and that t= ook almost 2 full days--- Don rolled up and started playing; we were both crying.  He loved it; = he called me “a friggin’ genius.” This is what I work for; this is what I live for; I did the work at about 6= 5% of what I would ordinarily charge; The money is NOT the payoff. To bring love and happiness to music lovers, music players, human beings wi= th sweet hearts and beautiful intentions:  this is what this work is al= l about.  I’m feeling good. My love and respect to all..... David Andersen </BODY> </HTML>