Junk Pianos - Sad Shopping Story - update

[Joe And Penny Goss]

Hi Conrad, Well two out of 5 mean somtin' <G> And I am sure there are more
iffin you really wanted to put em all down.

The only one that still gives me Goose Bumps is
Joe Goss  RPT
imatunr@srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Conrad Hoffsommer" <hoffsoco@martin.luther.edu>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 10:04 AM
Subject: Re: Junk Pianos - Sad Shopping Story - update


> Duaine,
>
> At 10:21 4/19/2004 -0500, you wrote:
> >First off I don't want to start a long thread about this.
> >
> >Unless you all are seeing in very very bad shape (worse than what I
> >usually see) pianos. If I see a piano that is really down in pitch, I'll
> >tell the customer than and let them know by bringing it up to pitch
> >(A-440) there may be extra work (broken strings, pin doping, etc) they
> >agree to the terms and I tune it up to pitch.
>
>
> I _DID_ go over all the options.  By tuning it about to itself (after we
> listened to how much disagreement there was between my tuning fork and the
> piano and showing her that my RCT said 427.6), I confirmed that the pins
> would not hold very much higher pitch.  The block was already doped and
> yanking it up to pitch would have been a good way to ream the holes with
> corroded pins.
>
> Judgement call, but...
> Had I immediately gone to pitch raise mode I'd have had to bring it back
> down to where it _would_ hold a pitch. {probably below where I'd found it}
>
> Had the pinblock felt better, we were agreed that I would raise pitch at a
> later date. As it stands now, we both know that it will never be at 440.
>
> >Just me, but I think that is doing a disservice by tuning it at less than
> >A440 (Unless it is really really junk)
>
> Yes, it could be, but not when done with the full knowledge and consent of
> the customer.  She had doubts, or at least concerns, about the piano's
> ability to be tuned AT ALL when she called me to attempt the
> tuning.  Tuning at low pitch was not really good news, but rather less bad
> news that she had prepared herself for.  Junk it is, and junk it shall
> remain, but it is usable junk.
>
> >>I only brought the pitch up to 430Hz for fear of opening a bigger can of
> >>worms with broken strings and even looser pins.  I _think_  it will hold
> >>at 430, but at least it was able to be tuned to itself.
>
> I feel that I gave it it's best shot and postponed it's eventual fireplace
> duty.  I also made her feel good that all the work she had done on the
> keytops had not been in vain.
>
> The kids (just starting out) can practice and it will sound musical. Being
> at low pitch isn't in and of itself a bad thing - my Simmons & Clough is
> low, but still makes music.  The piano should last long enough to see if
> the parents want to get a better one {or _need_ to because they started on
> another alleged fixed pitch instruments and need to accompany}.
>
>   my 2¢
>
> Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT, MPT, CCT, PFP, ACS, CRS.
> Decorah, IA
>
> - Certified Calibration Technician for Bio-powered Digitally Activated
> Lever Action Tone Generation Systems.
> - Pianotech Flamesuit Purveyor
> - American Curmudgeon Society - Apprentice Member and Founder
>
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>