On Sun, 10 Mar 1996, Newton Hunt wrote: > This type of plastic can become so friable that a little squeeze of the fingers > can crumble it beyond repair. > > It may be more effecient to replace the wippens. Do check the dampers, > Newton > nhunt@rci.rutgers.edu > I have learned from experience (both the aforementioned good and bad) to point out, explain and estimate complete replacement of all of the accursed yellow plastic parts. Yes, even the backchecks will fall off like dying desert flies...even heavy breathing has been known to (well, maybe) fracture these parts. If you stand well back from the piano and gesture wildly, just maybe the client won't try to blame you for the problem! Gordon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gordon Wilson Keyboard Studio voice 217.328.3975 304 N. Maple Street fax 217.328.3983 Suite 203 toll-free 800.821.1197 Urbana, IL 61801 e-mail gwilson@prairienet.org home page http://www.cu-online.com/~gwilson "Music? Computers? Both!? We want to help!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PIANOTECH Digest 242 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Otto Higel Co by Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net> 2) Re: Otto Higel Co by Allen Leigh <allen@pengar.com> 3) Re: Otto Higel Co by Vince Mrykalo <REEVESJ@ucs.byu.edu> 4) Barb re; Plastic Jacks by JIMRPT@aol.com 5) Re: piano action travel dolly by jpage@selway.umt.edu (Jeff Stickney) 6) Re: piano recommendation by fyonley@usa.pipeline.com (Fred Yonley) 7) Re: Otto Higel Co by Paul Kupelian <kupelian@Oswego.Oswego.EDU> 8) 85 note pianos by kam544@ionet.net (Keith McGavern) 9) Re: Barb re; Plastic Jacks by Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net> 10) Softening Hardened Damper Felts by Arnold <arnold@nando.net> 11) Re: Softening Hardened Damper Felts by stanwood@tiac.net (stanwood) 12) Hazards by johnsond@stolaf.edu (Dennis Johnson) 13) Re: Teacher discounts by sethile@msumusik.mursuky.edu (Scott Thile) 14) Re: Softening Hardened Damper Felts by twfic@netcom.netcom.com (Ty Fairchild) 15) Re: 85 note pianos by Wippen@aol.com 16) Re: Otto Higel Co by twfic@netcom.netcom.com (Ty Fairchild) 17) Re: 88 note pianos by Pianocraft@aol.com 18) Re: Softening Hardened Damper Felts by TUNERJIM@aol.com 19) Re: piano action travel dolly by Wally Wilson <University of Charleston> 20) Re: piano recommendation by Wally Wilson <University of Charleston> 21) Miracle Polishing Cloth by "S. Brady" <sbrady@u.washington.edu> 22) String cans by Tunrboy@aol.com 23) Re: Otto Higel Co by Allen Leigh <allen@pengar.com> 24) Re plastic jacks by hoplandr@cadvision.com (Ray Hopland) 25) Re: 88 note pianos by Tunrboy@aol.com 26) Re: 85 note pianos by kam544@ionet.net (Keith McGavern) 27) Re: String cans by "Barbara E. Richmond" <brichmon@e-tex.com> 28) Tagamet time? by Gilreath@aol.com 29) Re: String cans by cjf@eideti.com (Charles J. Flaum) 30) Re Otto Higel Co by hoplandr@cadvision.com (Ray Hopland) 31) Re: Miracle Polishing Cloth by kam544@ionet.net (Keith McGavern) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 09:29:25 -0500 (EST) From: Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net> To: pianotech@byu.edu Cc: Multiple recipients of list <pianotech@byu.edu> Subject: Re: Otto Higel Co Hi, Laurence. The piano was undoubtedly meant to be tuned to A-435, not A-440. More important, however, is the fact this was a fairly low-quality instrument, even when new. Conswquently, virtually every OH player I've seen in recent years has had a cracked bass bridge. It's difficult to see because the pumping bellows are in the way, but check out the bass bridge carefully. If it is cracked, you're going to have to repair it or replace it before going any further. Trying to raise the pitch any higher than you already have, will only make the situation worse. Even if the bass bridge IS intact this piano probably needs much more work than merely it's hammers replaced. If the hammers are shot, you can bet that the dampers are, too. And the action will need a complete regulation, because players get the stuff- ings beat out of them, and it's tough to find anyone willing to work on them. Consequently, chances are that piano hasn't been regulated since it left the factory. Further, beacuse players do get such a work- out, it commonplace to find the entire action worn out, and in need of major rebuilding just to make it functional as a regular piano. As an example, you may find loose and wobbling action centers because the bushings are worn out. If you can't find replacement flanges, you might have to rebush all those babies by hand! PLUS, you're talking about re- stringing it as well! The bottom line is that this instrument is too old and it's original quality was too poor, to put the kind of big bucks into it that would be necessary to make a useful musical instru- ment out of it. Those dollars could be used much more effectively if they went towards replacing this piano with something newer, and of higher quality. How about the player mechanism? Well, if it's the "Metalnola" action, you can probably forget about rebuilding it, too, because it's not unusual the die cast metal valve chambers so badly deteriorated that that the entire player action has to be tossed anyway. The later OH player action was better and more conventional than the Metalnola, but that's not saying a whole heck of a lot, the quality was still mediocre at best. You might want to consider just tuning this a couple of more times, resurfacing the hammers and doing some basic regulating work on the action, so that the piano can at least be functional while it's owners start look- ing for another one. Putting in the time and effort necessary to restore this turkey will do little to bolster your professional reputation, and even with your best efforts the end result is likely to be a disappointment, bwcause the quality was just never there is the first place. Here's one vote in favor of moving on to something more worthy of your time and talents. Les Smith
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