Was Re: Coil tapping

[Z! Reinhardt]

Comments between the lines below ...

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> From: David ilvedson <ilvey@a.crl.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Was Re: Coil tapping
> Date: Monday, April 20, 1998 10:49 AM
> 
> > From:          Billbrpt <Billbrpt@aol.com>
> > Date:          Mon, 20 Apr 1998 17:00:52 EDT
> > To:            pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject:       Re: Was Re: Coil tapping
> > Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org
> 
> I agree that at least the problem should be brought up to the 
> dealer.  Tapping the coils shouldn't take more than 5 minutes?  

Multiply a few seconds by about 220 strings.  Also add a little time for
breaks until you get used to doing it.  I'm figuring more like 10-15
minutes, maybe 20 at first.

> Would the dealer go for it?  I certainly hope so...Would the 
> technician go for it?  I certainly hope so...

I should think any technician worth his/her weight in salt would go for
this if paid properly for it.  The problem is in the unfortunate attitudes
so many dealers have concerning expenses for technical services, no matter
how much good it will be in the long run for the customers, pianos,
technicians, and even the dealers themselves.

My question is, to what extent do the manufacturers take coil-tapping
seriously?  We've seen in this thread that at least one major manufacturer
doesn't.  Is this manufacturer (or any others) willing to authorize
warranty requests to correct the "lack of workmanship" or will they tell
the dealer that coil tightening is assumed to be standard dealer prep to be
done at the dealer's expense?

Just my pitch/deviations --

ZR!  RPT
Ann Arbor  MI
diskladame@provide.net

 
> I'm out of flamesuits so be gentle...
> 
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, CA
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > In a message dated 98-04-20 16:23:55 EDT, you write:
> > 
> > << I see a lot of new pianos with coils higher on one side of the pin
than the
> >  other which when tapped down the pitch drops dramatically. New Samick
grands
> >  in particular seem to suffer from this.(not a put-down folks-just an
> >  observation-flame suit is ready :-) I do not get in the habit of
tapping them
> >  down as this would create a floor tuning nightmare. >>
> > 
> > Of course this is not a "put down", just an observation that a
particular
> > manufacturer seems to permit a certain defect in workmanship.  The fact
that
> > no action is taken because "it would create a ...nightmare" is
ironically
> > where this person fails to see the light.  It would be better to knock
down
> > those coils and bring the resultant pitch drop up in one fell swoop
rather
> > than struggling with a life time of dubious stability with the
instrument.
> > 
> > A floor technician should be able to get money for correcting these
kinds of
> > defects.  If they really are consistently permitted by the manufacturer
and
> > its warranty claims department keeps having to pay the bill for what
should
> > have been done in the factory, you can be sure that the problem will be
> > corrected.  By not bringing it to anyone's attention, the problem falls
> > squarely on the technician alone.  If  the tunings are unstable, the
> > technician will most likely be blamed.  It will do no good to tell the
> > customer in the home that "Those S.... pianos are all poorly made."  
> > 
> > Bill Bremmer RPT
> > Madison, Wisconsin
> > 
> >