bad block & pinning

[Dave Nereson]

----- Original Message -----
From: <PnutPern@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2001 6:38 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

Sounds to me like the ONLY thing to do is replace the block.  The
"rebuilder" who sold them the piano should either refund part of their money
or agree to replace the block.  A dealer I worked for sold someone a Lindner
vertical and I had to go do the free tuning that came with it.  When the
customers told me how much they paid for that plastic hunk o' junk, I told
them they'd been had.  The dealer took it back.  I never heard anything, but
then it was a fairly large company with several stores and I didn't know the
actual salesman.  Sticky situation.  Go with your conscience and good
business sense, I guess.  -- Dave Nereson, RPT


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