Hi, Ted, I feel that if the piano is valuable, then we should try to match and replace ivory when possible. I keep all old ivory from keytop jobs, so I can often match a few missing pieces. However, it is likely more reasonable, and more cost effective, to have new plastic tops put on. Often, I have pointed out to a customer that I would not want to put on new, white tops. To me the piano looks like an old person with brand new false teeth - the color doe not fit. I prefer to use a grained ivory look. And, that is usually agreeable by the customer. I have samples with me that I can lay down on a keytop so that they can see what it will look like. My apologies to any listees who have "new" teeth - just a comparison that seems to work :} Sincerely, Tom Dickson >From: Ted Simmons <ted@yourlink.net> >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org >To: <pianotech@ptg.org> >Subject: Ivory keytop substitute >Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 14:24:34 -0700 > >I tuned a Mason & Hamlin AA today that was in pretty good shape except that >the keytops were a mish-mash of ivory pieces, most of them were installed >without whitening underneath. The keyboard looked horrible. I tried to >talk the owner into getting new keytops but when I mentioned plastic he >cringed and refused to accept any material but ivory. I haven't heard of >any ivory substitute lately. The July 1995 PTJ mentioned using bone but >the >price was pretty high. I think if I could show him a sample of a non-ivory >keytop that looks and feels like ivory he would be happy with that. Any >thoughts out there? > >Ted Simmons >Merritt Island, FL > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
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