Shawn, Comments interspersed. At 12:22 PM 9/14/2006, you wrote: >Good people, >I'm hopeing someone can giv my novice behind some advice. Yesterday >I went to service a piano for a new customer. I was told it was an >old Upright from the STAR PIANO COMPANY. When I arrived (got the >Library of Congress off the top of the damn thing) opened her up to >have a look, or in my case a feel. The first thing I saw was the >hammer felt was split on probably half of the hammers. On some it >had separated from the molding. I madee decision the piano could >not be properly voiced. With that happening, it can't be properly tuned either!!!!!! That's when you should have stopped! >The next thing was the strings. They were corroded with rust. So I >was afraid to bring the piano up to pitch. Maybe, maybe not. >The last thing was the tuning pins, they were so loose I could not >believe it. That's when I would have definitely made my "escape" if he wouldn't put out a BUNCH of money to fix it! Or better yet, replace it! >I made statements to the man of the house about all of these >problems. He told me "do the best you can with it" Well, it depends on how much you value your reputation! >So, I tuned. Was the tuning good? No way! But it was better than >what they had. I tuned the temperament three times. It seemed the >piano was just going flat each time. Those loose tuning pins?????? >After about 2 hours I stood up and said, this is all I can do with >it. You might want to think about a new piano. Yes yes we are he >tells me. We know this one is about gone. I tell the old boy, >theirs no about to it. It is! I collected my money, and out the >door I went. I left my card with them, and stated to give me a call >if they needed anyone to help them find a new piano, or someone to >look at a piano for them. That's what I'd done in the first place! >After getting home some 8 hours later I got a call from the man of >the house. He told me that now the piano sounded worse than it did >before it was tuned. What do you all think of that? Should I go >back and try it again free of charge? NO! > Should I forget about it? YES! Remind him of what you said about getting a "newer" piano and that he said "We know this one is about gone." >I should have never taken the job in the first place right? Very definitely. Especially after you found all those problems. >Well I have a driver to pay, I came 25 miles out of my way, I have >told them i just dont know how this will work out. The piano has a >lot of problems. So I did the job... And now... Hopefully, a lesson learned! Well, you made a mistake. We all did when we were "young" in this profession. All I can say is remind him of the above, accept your losses and vow never to make the same mistake again!!!!!!! Sounds a little like you need a "mentor" to call and get some advice before you do jobs like this! JMO. Avery Todd University of Houston >Shawn Brock
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