Regulation

[Dean May]

We all have our little pet peeves that we like to address in regulating an
action. Depending on one's level of anal retentiveness one could spend days
in regulating an action. Fitting keys to keyframe, obsessing over bedding
the keyframe, checking every action center, polishing springs, pins and
capstans, etc. etc. 

 

There comes, of course, a point of diminishing return. I like to give my
customer the most bang for their buck. Evaluate the piano, use your
experience to determine what areas need the most attention that will give
the most return, balance against the customer's needs and usage. 

 

I don't do much concert work, most of my work is in homes on pianos that
don't get played a lot by players who don't appreciate a fine instrument
(otherwise they'd have something else in the house). So I focus on the
essentials: Make sure the keys work well, maybe polish capstans, look for
obvious excessive friction in centers, de-friction (Teflon knuckles, key
bushings & whippens, Protek centers), adjust hammer blow, let off, drop,
dip, rep spring, checking. I find I can make a pretty huge improvement on
most pianos with 3-5 hours worth of work. It used to take me 6-10 hours to
do the same thing so gauge yourself accordingly. 

 

I always quote a pretty wide range for regulating work and then just charge
my hourly rate. 

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Matthew Todd
Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 8:45 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Regulation

 

I am considering a regulation job on a clients piano.  I noticed in "G"
Piano Works Labor Repair Guide a partial regulation and a major regulation.
The partial regulation takes half the time of the major.  What would you
reckon the difference would be between the two?

 

Is a regulation a regulation, or can there be different levels of service
with this particular job, depending on what the customer wants to pay for?
I want to give my client a quote for this, so I was wondering if I can give
him several options for this service.

 

 

Thank you,

Matthew

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