low quality, and high quality

[John Ross]

Hi Ron,
Like all of you, I also prefer to work on good pianos.
However I have a different outlook on the klunkers.
I work in a mainly rural area. Not everyone makes a good wage.
Sometimes all that can be afforded, is the klunker. There is usually a child
wanting to take lessons.
I feel that I am doing a required service, in getting the piano to pitch, and
operational for a child, who might otherwise be discouraged from music. Because
of an untuned piano, with not all the notes working.
That look of pleasure on the childs face, when all the notes play, and sound as
they think they should, makes up for the frustration of working on a less than
adequate instrument.
I tell them that if the child shows promise they should be on the lookout for a
better piano. But they will have time to look around, and get the proper one for
them, at the right price.
There are other people in the world that do not make the big wages,and they
deserve music too.
All of us, don't have the luxury of a large population base, of high income
earners.
Regards,
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Ron Nossaman wrote:

> =========================
> >To those who now might think that I am maybe picky and arrogant, I say : I
> >love to
> >work with really well made, beautiful instruments of high class, and I have
> >absolutely made it my goal to keep it that way.
> >
> >Antares
>
> A lady called me last week wanting her *free* old upright tuned. She got mad
> when I tried to decline gracefully, so I spent about ten minutes discussing
> my reasons with her. Finally, she said she understood, and my reluctance to
> do the tuning seemed reasonable under the circumstances. She also thanked me
> for the explanation, since none of the other techs who refused her that day
> had bothered to tell her anything but NO. I'd like to think I saved her some
> grief, but I expect she kept calling until she either found someone to do
> the work for her, or ran out of names in the Directory. At least she had a
> clearer idea of what she was up against after we talked.
>
>  Ron