Hi Bill,
Whilst I can agree with much of what you say, you seem to be
painting with a very broad brush.
>using a solution of "snuggles", alcohol and water,...>>
>
Some of the juiced Korean hammers that I have come across, traditional
methods made little difference, new hammers would be the only credible
solution. Now Mr. Customer this is going to cost you $1000.00. but I can
greatly improve the musicality of your instrument for less than $100.00 if
I use alcohol and water.
>Do ANY of you do any TESTING on your own pianos, or experiment for perhaps a
>day or two before you apply cockamamie concoctions to the expensive pianos
of
>customers? Is there an extensive chemistry education background in some of
>you that I have missed?
No, Just a dumb Electrical Engineer, 30yrs ago. (R & D in Gas
Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry) I only got to count the ions.
Well since I may be one of persons that you may be refering to, and am
guilty for teaching steam voicing techniques at conventions. The answer is
yes, a lot of testing was carried out before sharing imformation with
others. First on PSO's ,then graduated to quality pianos.
And I have replaced a couple of sets of hammers at my own expense for my
screw ups.
Considering that piano technology is long
>established, and cures for various problems are rather well known and proven
>safe and effective,
Like pin block dope and rusty strings vs CA glue. Interesting!
it seems like the current "professional" practice has
>deteriorated to five minutes of pouring onto hammers any $1.19 product from
>Safeway, --and voila-- it sounds different. ( No matter that harm is done.)
Have you tried alcohol and water? The disasters that I have seen, was not
the 50cents of alcohol, but the person using the product.
I've changed more sets of hammers because of poor needling practices, by so
called professionals, but that's OK, it's the old method.
>
>How about this idea for a action reconditioning? Leave the action out in
the
>rain for a few days! The water will soften the hammers and the tone will
>improve, the action centers will swell and shrink upon drying and free up,
>and the key bushings will tighten up a lot, eliminating key slop! Genius.
Have to experiment with that one.
>
>Seems to me that the sterling professionals that advocate new treatments, on
>any part of a piano, should have the burden of proof that they cause no harm
>and are better than the old ways. If they are proven out and become part of
>decent established practice, the fellow should be given credit and renown!
>AND, - to be ethical "professionals" - if you do find a product to pour on
>hammers and in 2 minutes they are all better forever, then the result to the
>customer should cost the customer LESS, - unless it is part of a con job.
This I agree with.
>
>Recently I read here that someone leaves the pitch raise tuning DELIBERATELY
>" ROUGH" so that the customer is more impressed with their tuning the next
>session. They were feeling a bit sheepish about that. I have a tip for
you,
> -- this is the essence of a con job, doing deliberately inferior work,
when
>better work could be done, to con the customer into believing something
that
>isn't true!
I'm with you. Your best at all times, within the customers budget.
>
>Where the hell are the " Standards of Practice" found in real professions?
>What is the PTG for if not to establish such standards and educate towards
>them?
This an area in our organisation that could be improved, but slowly
standards are being raised.
>
Regards Roger
Roger Jolly
Saskatoon, Canada.
306-665-0213
Fax 652-0505
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