No crown , negative bearing

[Ron Nossaman]

>I have a customer with an Emerson 5' grand that was "re-worked" by another
tech unknown to me and she has been disappointed with the sound. I examined
the piano which has new hammers on old shanks, new bass strings with
over-size tuning pins, doped treble wire tuning pins, no after touch, no
crown, some speaking length bearing but negative rear (hitch pin side)
bearing.  I doubt the crown and bearing were ever measured.  But, the new
finish is OK.
>
>She wants to know if I can make it sound better. I suggested regulation and
possibly re-hanging the hammers on new shanks and flanges wilst establishing
a proper strike line (current one not good) might achieve a little
improvement but the lack of bearing and crown is a major problem.
>
>Is it worth even considering re-stringing this piano as is?  I wouldn't
think so and an Emerson grand is not worth the costs of new soundboard and such.
>
>Del Gittinger, RPT



Wow! I've been in this position WAY too often, and there isn't a graceful
way out without SOMEONE getting traumatized. Pretty much anything that you
do to the piano that turns out to NOT make it sound better, in the
customer's opinion, will be considered money down a rat hole. The rat hole
would, in this case, be you. I can't see action regulation making all that
much difference unless the thing just won't play at all now, and
re-establishing the hammer strike line probably won't help all that much
anywhere but in the high treble. Re stringing it with the soundboard in that
condition would probably make it sound a little better, just from having new
strings, but it isn't really a fix. I think it would be better to quote her
prices on EVERYTHING the piano ought to have to make it sound and play at or
near whatever potential it may have, and stand back. She will probably
decide not to do it, and you will be off the hook and not held accountable
for spending her money on procedures that didn't really approach the real
problems. On the other hand, if she decides to get the work done, it will be
too much money spent for the piano, but it should definitely sound better
and she would have something for the money spent. In cases like this, I make
sure the customer knows that the cost involved exceeds the market value of
the piano, sometimes by a considerable margin. Sometimes, they go for it
anyway. If it were a scaling or voicing problem that could be overcome with
a set of bass strings or some hammer work, that would be another thing
altogether. As it is, it sounds like it needs a soundboard along with a
pretty comprehensive rebuild. The last guy already did the false hope gig,
you should level with her and tell her the whole truth before doing anything. 

Anyway, that's my call.

 Ron N