String Installation Question

[Matthew Todd]

It's called ethical profitability.  I'd rather find out a good system to use, whether it's piano wire or glue, rather then try to come up with something on a whim and realize the mistake later.

PAULREVENKOJONES <paulrevenkojones at aol.com> wrote:      Matthew:
   
  Being business-like is a good idea, or you're soon out of business. You can't give materials away, so you'll have to come up with some materials component to your fee, be it a dollar or five. Fractionalizing string lengths against the available length in a 1/2 lb coil gets ridiculous. Ethical is what is fair to both you and the client and what lets you get to sleep at night. 
   
  Paul
   
    "If you want to know the truth, stop having opinions" (Chinese fortune cookie)

   
   
  In a message dated 08/02/07 22:13:16 Central Daylight Time, toddpianoworks at yahoo.com writes:
        .aolmailheader          {font-size:8pt; color:black; font-family:Arial}  a.aolmailheader:link    {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal}  a.aolmailheader:visited {color:magenta; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal}  a.aolmailheader:active  {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal}  a.aolmailheader:hover   {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal}    On the subject, how do you charge for the actual wire you use?  If I had a 1/2 lb coil of size 20 wire, that I paid $8 for, and I had used so much of it to replace a string, what is the ethical way to charge for this?

Mike Spalding <mike.spalding1 at verizon.net> wrote:   Matthew,

There should be enough room in the gap left by the missing wire to 
maneuver a standard mic in there to get a reading, if you're really 
careful and observant about making sure the anvil seats squarely on the 
string. Depending on which string it is, and the style/size of the 
piano, you may need to remove the action to get the mic in. But that 
will also make it much easier to replace the string. As for getting 
paid for the additional time, make sure the owner understands that if 
they had saved the broken string for you, it would not have cost as much.

Mike

Matthew Todd wrote:
> I have a mic. My question was how can you get an accurate reading of 
> a string still in the piano.
>
> */paul bruesch 
/* wrote:
>
> You need to have a mic to measure the wire, but you do not have to
> spend $200. Schaff sells a nice Starrett for $100. It's not the
> digital display type, so you'll need to spend five minutes
> learning how to read it. You could also pick up one from a
> retiring tech, or possibly even buy a cheap one to get started...
> not my recommendation, though. The really expensive wire gauges
> only read whole wire sizes. Convenient, but not too useful.
>
> The other day I tuned a S&S M. The A4 note only had one string,
> and when I pointed it out to the owner she said she'd heard a
> clangy noise a week prior. Funny, she didn't notice how
> weak-sounding that one note was, and likewise there was no trace
> of the remains (except the coils and an inch or two on one of the
> pins.)
>
> Paul Bruesch
> Stillwater, MN
>
> On 8/2/07, *Matthew Todd* > > wrote:
>
> Last weekend, I tuned a console for a lady and discovered that
> a treble note was missing a string. I pointed it out to her
> and I will be coming back to replace it.
> 
> But I got to thinking....there are no traces of this broken
> string anywhere in the piano. Totally vanished. So, I am
> assuming that the previous tuner broke it, and didn't say
> anything. Is that a fair assumption?
> 
> Anyway, how do I get a mic reading from the adjacent string,
> or calculate which size wire to use? I know PianoTek sells a
> micrometer than enables you to measure diameters of strings
> still in the piano, but I'd rather not spend $200 on this item
> if I can help it, and I'm assuming this situation doesn't
> happen THAT often.
> 
> Any help will be appreciated.
> 
> 
> Thanks!
> Matthew
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