(no subject)

[Erwinpiano]

Michael

   You know, there is a guy in every region that call themselves piano
rebuilders when really they're just piano butchers.  People with no
integrity or passion.  You have left the employ of a con man, good for you.
This sounds just like the work of our local hack Paul Rea. Seen it plenty.
P.t. Barnum  and these guys all believe there is a sucker every minute.
Don't be one of them by continuing to support this guy in any way.  If you
didn't know better at the time you do now.
  Your client would not be happy if they knew the truth even if ignorance is
bliss at present.  The kind of decisions your boss made are ones he makes
all the time, unethical ones.  Surely you're not inferring that this is the
first butcher job you're aware of.
  Your predicament is kind of like a battered woman who leaves the jerk and
then won't press charges. What's your excuse. Get a grip. Making right and
righteous choices may not be easy but sleep is always easier to come by with
a clean conscience. I'm sure you'll do the right thing.

      Best

     Dale Erwin
----- Original Message -----
From: <PnutPern@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2001 5:38 PM
Subject: (no subject)


> How should I handle this situation:
>
> I currently work for a piano rebuilder and provide tunings on my own time.
I
> am starting a new job next week with a well-established and well-respected
> dealer but I will continue my side tunings.  I will also continue getting
> referrals from my current boss. My soon to be ex-employer sold a
Chickering
> grand with a questionable pin-block and I am stuck with tuning and
servicing
> this piano.  They seem happy with it so far but it is a nightmare to tune
for
> the following reasons:
>
>  1)  This 1923 piano showed evidence of being doped  and instead of
replacing
> the block he re-pinned with 5 & 6 pins throughout.  2)  Several base pins
> were shimmed with walnut veneer and epoxy making them almost impossible to
> turn.  3)  He leaves his pins protruding too high from the plate (approx.
> 1/2" from the plate to the coil) which causes flagpoling in the pins (esp.
in
> treble).  4)  At least half a dozen pins ratchet which I believe is a
result
> of the dope/huge pin combination.  5)  He doesn't believe in using half
size
> strings which I understand can cause inharmonicity and tuning problems. 6)
> It sits in an open sanctuary that consists of tile, glass, and concrete so
> the sound just goes everywhere.
>
> I hate tuning this piano but they are a good customer of mine.  I also
don't
> want to get a bad reputation when another tuner comes in and finds these
> problems that I never told them about.  How do I handle this without
> badmouthing my old boss?  Also, who should pay for the repairs that this
> thing really should have and what can be done without replacing the block?
>
> Thanks, Michael Crosby
>              Atlanta, GA
>
>
>
>