Kimball Whitney

J Patrick Draine draine@attbi.com
Sun, 5 Jan 2003 14:22:16 -0800


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On Sunday, January 5, 2003, at 08:57  AM, SUSAN P SWEARINGEN wrote:

> Any opinions on the quality of Kimball Whitney pianos?=A0

Low.

>  Is it a spinet??

Most often, though I wouldn't be surprised if some scrawny consoles=20
bore the Whitney name as well.

> =A0A customer of mine is looking at buying one for about $500 and =
asked=20
> me but I've never tuned one.

Lucky you! The instrument *may* be worth that to him, if he's rather=20
fortunate.

On the other hand there's probably the prospect of a 100 cent pitch=20
raise and follow up tunings, the action should probably be pulled to=20
tighten rattling wippen flange screws, space hammers, file hammers and=20=

do a great deal of hammer felt needling to get a less clangorous tone,=20=

repin tight jack flanges, etc., and then replace all the rubber-plastic=20=

grommets which crumble when you remove the action (or simply adjust=20
lost motion); a full regulation (especially damper timing may well be=20
in order too).
In other words if he's willing to spend up to twice the purchase price=20=

on your labors to bring out a hemp handbag from this sow's ear, he=20
might be satisfied.

I always suggest a "reality check" with my opinion that (for example)=20
$6-7000 for a new Yamaha U-1 is money well spent, and that the=20
satisfaction level that he'll achieve with a $500 piano may be similar=20=

to that he'll achieve with a $500 car. Your mileage may vary.
Patrick Draine



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