Unglued Hammerheads (Clamping)

[Kdivad@AOL.COM]

In a message dated Wed, 20 Mar 2002  7:26:29 PM Eastern Standard Time, Phil Bondi <pbondi2@comcast.net> writes:

> I have, as I'm sure most of us have, encountered this and have been faced
> with cost vs. the point of diminishing return.
> 
> 3 years ago I was asked to tune a very nice Kawai Console for a very nice
> elderly couple. She also told me that a few of the keys were sticking when
> she pressed the damper pedal.
> 
> When I arrived, and upon a breif inspection, I saw that approx. 2 dozen
> hammer heads were coming unglued from the moldings. The ones that were
> coming loose from the bottom molding were the ones hanging up on the
> dampers, causing the notes to 'stick'.
> 
> There was also evidence that the previous tech had attempted to secure loose
> hammer heads with glue and thread. I showed her what was happening, and
> explained that attempting to glue and clamp these hammers was possibly a
> waste of my time and her money. I told her how much it would cost to replace
> the full set of hammers, and of course that was too much money, so she asked
> me to do my best in trying to glue and clamp.
> 
> This summer I will be replacing the hammers. All of a sudden it's not too
> much money to replace the hammers..and I'm pretty sure their income is
> pretty fixed. I also pointed out to her that this piano was very worthy of
> replacing the hammers and that she would be very pleased with the results.
> 
> This is an instance where I felt pretty sure that these people weren't going
> to go for the complete job. The instrument is worth the investment.
> 
> ..then there's the other unmentionable instruments that are family heirlooms
> and it hasn't been tuned since Aunt Sophie was a little girl, but now little
> Bobby is banging around on it and the family heirloom needs to be tuned. In
> a case like this where I see hammer heads coming unglued, I point it out to
> them, tell them that whatever I do to try and remedy the situation has no
> guarantee, do my best with CA and spring clamps, and call it a day. If
> little Bobby starts to take off and show a real interest in the piano, the
> family will come up with the money for a real instrument, otherwise it's
> destined to continue to be a picture holder.
> 
> ..so Richard, I agree.
> 
> Phil

Well said Phil, as I said earlier evaluate both the piano and the customer.  What I don't agree with is when people speak in absolutes such as it is always wrong to glue exploded hammers or that the scenario of "poor little johnny who's parents cant afford a real" piano is almost always false.  

David Koelzer
DFW