universal bass string deadness

[Maxpiano@AOL.COM]

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In a message dated 12/24/01 11:30:19 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
Bigeartb@AOL.COM writes:


> With that kind of business practice you will manage to get all the "junk" 
> tunings. I hope that I am known as the very best technician/tuner . Not 
> that 
> I am necessarily the cheapest and will repair anything....anyway. I only 
> want 
> to strive for the best I can be and I therefore must not be swayed by the 
> customer to do inferior work just to save a little money. This is my 
> business 
> philosophy and its has worked pretty good.
> 

Tommy,

Each of us has to work out to his own satisfaction what it means, to do what 
is in the best interest of the customer.  I agree that in many situations, 
the customer's best interests are served by uncompromising workmanship.  When 
no other factors are involved, this is my outlook.  I am jealous of the 
reputation for doing the best work.  And I have achieved it in the minds of 
many of my clients.

But would you not agree that we need to adapt ourselves to the situation at 
hand?  Apparently your situation is far different from mine.  30+ years ago I 
began here in South Carolina while employed by a concern that would send 
their technician anywhere in the state believing that it would help them sell 
pianos.  I only worked for this dealer two years and don't sell pianos 
myself, but got into the syndrome of going to many localities where there is 
no local tuner.  I have customers all over the state.  When I am 80 miles 
from home and have to repair a broken bass string in a Henry F. Miller 
spinet, it does not even enter my mind to suggest to the customer that they 
wait three months for me to schedule a return call (yes, I am booked up that 
far ahead), pay me mileage and travel time plus service call fee, just to put 
in the new string--when I am well stocked with universals or can knot the old 
string.  (For emphasis' sake let me make it plain, I am NOT talking about a 
concert venue, a teacher's studio or other demanding situation.  I presently 
have two actions in the shop (S&S and M&H) where I am cleaning up years of 
sloppy maintenance performed by "the Southeast's premier rebuilders" for one 
of the area's university fine arts departments)

I also get into situations where many of the bass strings have already been 
replaced and they look sloppy.  Several Kimball 4430 studios in churches and 
schools come to mind.  Flanges need repinning.  Hammers are worn.  It does 
not seem to make sense to me to do anything else than get them going.  If I 
put in an original equipment string, the effect or lack of it will be lost in 
the ensemble.  Recommending restringing the entire bass would be so much 
beating the air and in my estimation not practical for many of these.

Finally, and this is off the topic of the repair -- I think we should strive 
to be professional in every way that meets the customer, in our dress, our 
deportment, our ethics and our speech.  You said, "This is my business 
philosophy and its has worked pretty good."  (Underlining mine).  I recall an 
incident while I was a junior in college, helping a freshman struggling with 
his remedial English course.  I met his professor on campus one day and said 
to her, "Say, I hear Charlie is doing pretty good in English now!"  She slyly 
looked up at me and said, "Well?"

Bill Maxim, B.A., B.MUS., RPT
Whose wife tells him he is too picky

Maxim Piano Service
212 Newpark Place
Columbia, SC 29212-8666
(803) 732-9225, FAX (803) 732-2641
wmaxim@aol.com

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