this list was haunting me yesterday... Serves me right and does me well, as an "in-house" tech, to get out and see the lesser pso's. Raised some questions. 1. NaugaWurli fecit 1951 - not tuned in 7 yrs - ~110 cents flat. Nauga in "perfect condition", bridges sound and no rust on strings. 2. Story & Clark 42" 1937 - not tuned in 10 yrs - ~100 cents flat - horrible soundboard buzzes. The set-up: both have evidence of pinblock splits, pins along the splitlines are "marginal" I didn't have my torque wrench with me, but both were still in tune as I left the room. I'm currently becoming philosophically attached to CA glue pinblock repairs, but haven't had occasion to practice the art. the Question: would those practitioners of CA repairs care to comment on possibility of aiding an ailing pinblock which has not yet failed completely? Perhaps off-list. 3. Chickering 85 key square - 1886. not tuned in 18 yrs. didn't determine pitch level. The set-up: customer had called all three tuners here in town - one went there, didn't have proper tool to pull action, other doesn't "do" squares - I was available, and I thanked both of them profusely this morning ;-}. The Question: The bolts which hold the action frame in place need a looong tuning tip to reach them (NOT screw heads). After removing the three, the action wouldn't budge. Knowing that the thing just recently came in from a garage, I convinced myself and the customer that the frame was swollen tight into the case. Knowing Chickering's propensity to experimentation, i wonder if there might be some _other_ action hold (believe me, I looked, even removing lyre to check for other fasteners there), or possible a good incantation to use? 4. Harrington player upright - 1910 - player works - plucked strings indicated at least three splits. Fortunately, didn't even try to tune it. 5. Kimball 44" console 1927 - not tuned since bought at farm auction 10 years ago. 3/4 plate w/sheetmetal pinblock covering. Bass @-25cents, rest @-90. Tuned to itself and found pins tight - will do pitch raise next time if customer will spring for it. This Kimball has certainly done well. Quiz du jour: Several keys in top octave were down - looking like a Betsy Ross with broken elbows. Action functional. What do you think was holding the keys down? I think I'll tune a D, a B, and a couple SF-10's tomorrow to cleanse the palate. Conrad Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT hoffsoco@martin.luther.edu Luther College Music Technician pno2ner@salamander.com Decorah, Iowa 52101 Voice (319)-387-1204 Fax (319)-387-1076 Oh wad some power the giftie gie us; to see oursel's as others see us! It wad some monie a blunder free us, and foolish notion. - Robert Burns
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