Just wanted to add my own perspective on Larry's article. I guess the main thing I would emphasize is to learn the system thouroghly before attempting any service on it. During my 15 years as a piano tech I am frequently asked by churches if I would look to see why their organ is making that "staticy" sound, or people with pneumatic players will ask me to service their pianos, and in both cases I politely decline. I may as well offer to spay the family cat as put my grubby paws into the guts of an organ I know next to nothing about. There is no shame in admitting that. I have been a PianoDisc tech for 5 years, and after about 100 installs, I still run into something new now and then. It IS a complex system and there is much to be known about it in order to service it competently. Knowing a little about the system can get you in more trouble than going in blind. Just one example: if the solenoid rail is not set at the right height, then any attempts at any other regulation will be pointless. Or if the control box is running and the piano is not playing, is it a bad cable? A blown fuse? Do you know where the fuses are? Some are well hidden. Maybe junior was just playing with the buttons and hit PIANO-OFF. Would you know to check this first? Look up Pandora's Box in the dictionary and you will see a picture of the PDS-128. If a lot of your customers have these systems, you might find it beneficial to take the factory classes offered by the manufacturers, even if you are not interested in installing the product. Hey, it can only add to your income, too. If you want nothing to do with these players, then thats fine too. Just have your customer call a certified tech to take care of the player portion of the job. You will save yourself some big headaches and the customer will receive the service they require. After all, what would your opinion be of an organ tech diving into a customer's fine grand to see if he can figure out how to fix that pesky do-hinkey? And thanks, Larry, for a great post with lots of good information. Very timely. Respectfully, Dave Bunch Dave Bunch Piano Service http://members.aol.com/pdtek/piano.htm
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