World's Worst Tuner

[Les Smith]

Hi, Tom.

I thought uou might find this IMPORTANT tech tip to be helpful, the
next time you run through a complete set of Jiffy key leads while
doind damper-work on a grand. An acceptable substitute for a Jiffy
key lead that you've been securing to the damper heads with two
screws, is a lug-nut taken from the wheel of your car and affixed
with either duct-tape, or black electricians tape. I once saw a new
Samick grand with tightly pinned underlevers that had been treated
that way in three different places. I must admit that those babies
certainly didn't stick anymore! Downweight was a tad heavy, but HEY!,
one problem at a time, huh? The only downside to this repair is that
if you have to do it to more than five dampers, DON'T take all five
lug nuts off the same wheel of your car, or you're unlikely to make
it home with the satisfied piano-owners check. For that matter, you
might not make it past the turn out of his driveway. Large numbers of
extra lug-nuts in your tuning kit is probably the way to go. I hope
this helps! :-)

Les Smith
lessmithet.netn





On Wed, 12 Mar 1997, Tom Myler wrote:

>
> > From: Maxpiano@aol.com
> > To: pianotech@byu.edu
> > Subject: Re: World's Worst Tuner
> > Date: Wednesday, March 12, 1997 12:01 AM
> >
> > List -
> >
> > I followed one of those once.  Inebriated.  Tuning not like the one
> Horace
> > just mentioned - awful
> >
> > The music teacher called the bank immediately to stop payment on her
> check.
> >  Too late.  He had stopped there already on his way out of town.
> >
> > The same gentlemen used to leave a calling card, not paper on the music
> desk
> > but sheet lead fishline sinkers wrapped around the backcheck wire of any
> > sticking key.  It did work.  Kinda.
> >
> > Bill Maxim, Greer, SC
>
>
>
> Oh boy,  my turn.
>
> Piano-  30's low-end Aeolian grand, terrible condition.   Located in  a
> little church.
>
> Problem-  damper near the tenor break was leaking badly.  Reason-  damper
> felt was a hollowed-out husk, having been eaten from the inside out by
> carpet weevils.
>
> Previous technician's repair-  One (1) Jiffy Lead, SCREWED into the top of
> the damper head.  With two screws, no less;  this guy was no slouch.
>
> The bad news-  it felt just a little bit strange, having one key with a
> perceived downweight of about 4 pounds; also, with the guide rail bushings
> shot,  this altered damper really rattled and banged around.
>
> The worse news- it didn't work. The damper still leaked.
>
> I had two options-
>
> 1) screw another jiffy lead onto the damper, to reduce leakage;  then,
> install two leads on all the other dampers to even out the touch
>
> or
>
> 2) remove jiffy lead, replace damper felt, patch screw holes (screws had
> split the head).
>
>
> I chose (2) since I was short on time and Jiffy Leads.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Myler, Tom
>
> "Perhaps the greatest wisdom is the knowledge
> of one's own ignorance"
>
>                                  John Steinbeck
>
>
>
>
>