Dunce of the year

[Farrell]

Sometimes a mover's mistake can work for you. I did a pre-purchase inspection for a local lady on a 1980 or so Yamaha C3. The piano appeared to be in very good condition. The guy was asking $6,000 for it (reasonable, I thought), but was getting divorced and had to move within a few days and the piano had to go. He was ready to deal. I inspected piano and the action could not be removed - it was stuck big time - and also bass hammers were blocking against strings. I told everyone that there was a problem with blocking hammers - he saw that a said the condition had been there since they last moved piano. I told lady that I was 95% sure the movers had put the rear leg bolts in the front left leg and screwed it into the action frame. She decided to take a chance and ended up getting the piano for $2,500. She now has a nice little Yamaha (for cheap!) that required no repairs (other than to switch bolt positions after moving to her house). Needless to say, she likes me!

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Nereson" <dnereson@dimensional.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 6:34 AM
Subject: Re: Dunce of the year


>     Worked for a Yamaha dealer for several years and thought I was familiar
> with all the models.  Then encountered an older grand in a home.  Had to
> remove the action for something.  Looked underneath and no wing screws.  No
> flat-head screws flush with the keybed, either.  Hmmm,  maybe under rubber
> buttons on the key blocks.  Nope, no rubber buttons.  Maybe key blocks come
> out with fallboard.  Nope, no screws underneath.  No screws for the keyslip,
> either.  Search all around for Chinese-puzzle type tricks or hidden latches.
> Nada.  Fortunately had Yamaha service dept. number in my wallet and told
> customer I had to make a long-distance call, but it would be toll-free.
> Thankfully it was a weekday and still during working hours, California time.
> "See if the front legs are on backwards", they said.  Sure enough -- the
> access holes for the keyblock screws, which go up through the top portion of
> the legs [whatever that's called -- is it the capital? or head block?] were
> at the rear, that is, the right & left legs were switched, covering up the
> screws for the key blocks.  Customer helped temporarily support piano on the
> bench with phone books under the keybed while I switched legs.   At least it
> was the movers' fault, not mine.
.  --David Nereson, RPT
> 
>