----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Wisner <mwissner@earthlink.net>
To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2001 2:34 PM
Subject: Voicing & voices
"If new manufactured pianos want to keep up with the private rebuilder they
should offer a special line of Well voiced pianos. There is market for it and
it's quite large Mark."
I agree. For that market, Yamaha makes the S6 S4
grands. It's a warmer sounding piano. For every "S" piano we sell,
we sell about a gazillion of the more aggressive (?) sounding "G" and "C"
types. As I write this I hear a great, booming voice proclaiming
"The Market Has Spoken"! But hey! That's only ONE of the voices I
periodically hear, some of them are frequently mistaken, and maybe this one
is too.
Mark Wisner
mwissner@earthlink.net
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----- Original Message -----
From: Peg Browne <PeggySue@worldnet.att.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 1:14 PM
Subject: Re: deep plug cutters
This should keep you busy.
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/
http://www.shopworks.com/logs/
http://www.timberwolftools.com/index.html
http://www.thewoodworkerschoice.com/index.html
http://www.loghelp.com/tenoncut.html
.......................................
----- Original Message -----
From: John R Fortiner <pianoserv440@juno.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 2:12 PM
Subject: 3" plug cutter (tenon cutter)
Carbon Steel tenon cutters ( will cut up to 3" in length ) are available
in 3/8, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 3/4, and 1" sizes from MLCS. mlcswoodworking.com
On the "higher tech" side of similar cutters you can get a carbide tipped
cutter that will cut a 0.65" tenon, but I have a feeling that is a little
too large for your purposes.
John R. Fortiner
Billings, MT.
On Sun, 11 Mar 2001 13:15:04 -0500 "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
writes:
> I guess I was making an assumption about the supply-house pinblocks.
> I have
> been using some 7-ply pinblock plugs from Web Philips, which were
> reportedly
> cut from "standard supply-house pin blocks". They way these tend to
> readily
> split perpendicular to the long axis let me to assume they were
> either
> rotary cut or at best flat cut. No doubt I may be out in left
> field.
>
> Regarding plugs, many had provided guidance a while back on where to
> get a
> plug cutter - but I could find none that allowed cutting a plug of
> pinblock
> thickness - all were 1" thick max. Anyone have a source to share for
> a
> high-quality plug cutter for up to 2" long plugs?
>
> Terry Farrell
> Piano Tuning & Service
> Tampa, Florida
> mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
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> Forgive my ignorance, but who is Garrett Wade and how can I reach him.
CAUTION: here lie dragons of addiction!!
Garrett Wade
161 6th Ave.
NY, NY 10013
800-221-2942
garrettwade.com
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----- Original Message -----
From: Erwinpiano <Erwinpiano@email.msn.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 10:11 PM
Subject: Fw: Voicing & voices/ Market perspectives
{In the San Francisco Bay Area} I just sold a completely manufactured Mason BB a real beauty (I thought)with original Nice ivory and new every thing else for $47kU.S. to
someone from that area. That would never (almost probably) happen in
Modesto. I know of other Manufactured BBs that sold for $60K each within
the last 12 months. One near Baltimore and the other in new York. In Modesto
we do lots of action work/stringing and average garden variety jobs.
I think the last Rebuilt /rebellied piano we sold in Motown was a $16k
6Ft Weber. That's a high end sale for most of small town America. Sounds
like a lot of cash but don't forget the overhead cost. Wow
Dale Erwin
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----- Original Message -----
From: Meyer Carl <cmpiano@home.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 10:25 PM
Subject: Re: deep plug cutters
I found a plug cutter just a mile or two from my house. It was in a tool
supply store, but others have said they would have to order it.
I've made at least 1000 plugs with it and never have had it sharpened.
The air cooler (vortex tube) keeps it cool. I blow the cold air onto the
cutter and use a vacuum cleaner wand on the other side of the cutter to
draw the cold air over the bit and also suck up the chips. I can cut plugs
continuously and still put my hand on the cutter.
I use standard supply house pin blocks and since it's too much work to pull
the plugs out of the block, I set my drill press so that it cuts only within
1/16 or so of the bottom. Now you can use a table saw or planer to cut off
that 1/16 inch and they will all fall out.
I've made a pin block drilling machine and I drill out the block a little
over 3/8. Can't put a 3/8 plug in a 3/8 hole you know. I've found a metric
drill that is just right. Now I drill the plug with a 1/4 inch drill and
use 2/0 pins.
I'll make it a point to bring pictures of these things to Reno, so if you'll
grab me I'll have them in my briefcase.
Regarding speed controllers, I don't know of any resistive controllers. Of
course they wouldn't work. The reason tools will overheat is that if they
have lowered voltage and are loaded heavily, not only will they draw
excessive current but will lack cooling since the internal fan is now
running slower
as well.
Speed controllers don't work very well at lower speeds. The reason variable
speed drills work pretty well is that it uses servo control. Your finger is
part of the servo. Your eyes, ears, and brain are the speed measuring
devices. Hence, a closed loop servo.
Carl Meyer
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----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Driscoll <tomtuner@mediaone.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 2:00 AM
Subject: Re: Should he buy the Young Chang?
I serviced one of the new Pramberger grands recently. Sorry I don't have
the model # on hand , but I think it was this same one your client is
considering. The piano and was in need of some regulation, but was much
improved from earlier Y.C. models. Great bass tone, nice "fit and finish" .
This was a piano right from the factory , not through a dealer ,needing
prep, and the only problem not correctable with normal procedures was
oversize balance rail holes ..i.e. pulley keys.----- Original Message -----
From: Jeannie Dalton <saltdog@internetoutlet.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 8:36 PM
Subject: Should he buy the Young Chang?
> Hello list. A potential customer-buyer of a nice grand is considering the
> Yamaha C-5, a Kawai 6'4", or the Young Chang G-208 6'10". He can get the
> larger Young Chang for about the same money than the smaller Yamaha or
> Kawai. I searched the archives and couldn't find any strong objections to
> the Young Chang in the upper price ranges. I told him I'd check the
opinions
> of folks on this list so that he is happy with his piano (and my advice).
He
> likes the mellower tone of that Young Chang and does not know whether
> voicing would bring the Yamaha or the Kawai hammers to the tone he likes.
> He likes the Young Chang best on the floor, but wants to know if he would
> regret buying it down the road.
>
> Do any of you know of specific problems of the Young Chang G-208? Does
> the quality of that model compare with the Yamaha or Kawai? Suggestions?
> Warnings? Suspicions?
>
> Thanks,
> Jeannie Dalton, associate member
................................................
Hi Jeannie,
Longevity of tone and action quality would be the main
concern, YC has improved but so has Yamaha and Kawai. Resale value would
be another consideration, the Japanese pianos would win hands down.
YC key sticks tend to be of much inferior quality, and tend to warp.
Service back up the same thing.
The 2 I have serviced had doped hammers, not ideal over the long term.
Roger
...........................................
Hi Jeannie,
Young Chang pianos have come a long way. They are a good and reliable
piano. They do require a little more "out of the box" prepping than the
Japanese pianos, but they can be tuned, regulated and voiced to your
satisfaction. PersonalIy, have never run across any warped key sticks in any
of the Young Chang grands I have serviced or any other wood issues. Since
most customers own their pianos for many years, resale is really not a
consideration. Private parties are always hard pressed to sell their piano
for what they think its worth; their competition always being the dealer. As
for any warranty issues you may have, Young Chang honors their warranty as
good as Kawai and Yamaha. If your customer likes the way the piano sounds
and plays, he'll be getting a good deal.
Peg
..........................................
I service a new Pramberger 6'10" grand for wonderful church hall.
The hall has Ottawa's finest pipe organ, and acoustically is a great
concert location; dome shaped with varied contours and alcoves.
Many musicians are evaluating the instrument and it is getting
great reviews.
It required normal minor regulation, seating strings, a little string
levelling. I tamed a few aliquot segments that were particularly
excited.(probably they were relatively close to a common pitch
to sympathize with). The center pinning on these often has to
be redone out of the box. We have been getting 12-18 swings
on new flanges. Does not take long. The dealer should take care
of all such quality control before delivery. If it is prepped well
it is very fine instrument, and a good buy for the money.
I like this instrument allot, and find it a great improvement over some
predecessors. The house musician runs a music festival, and has
experience with many brands of pianos. He likes the tone very much.
I find they are using a softer, lighter hammer then they use to,
a welcome change.
Dave Renaud
RPT
Ottawa
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----- Original Message -----
From: Nichols <nicho@lascruces.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 8:45 AM
Subject: Re: Scrap Pin Block Material
At 12:21 PM 3/11/01 -0800, you wrote:
I'm looking for scrap Pin Block Material. Anyone have some that they'd like to sell?
I'm willing to pay 1/2 of the going rate of regular p.b.stock, per square foot. I can't use pieces smaller than 1/2 square foot sizes. Any Help would be appreciated.
regards, Joe Garrett: joegarrett@earthlink.net
Where are you, Joe? The SAMA plant is doing a block a day, and the scrap box next to the band saw is a gold mine of useless pb pieces. We could hang on to the larger chunks for you, but the shipping could be .... well.... y'know.
Guy Nichols, RPT
Ft Stinkin' Desert
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----- Original Message -----
From: Joseph Garrett <joegarrett@earthlink.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 11:17 AM
Subject: Phillip Gurlick Book
To all Technicians:
I have been GIVING my clients Phillip Gurlick's book "The Piano, A Piano Technician's Guide for the Piano Owner", on the first visit. I have found that this book alleviates many problems of owner misinformation, etc. At present, I have probably given out over 2000 of these. Sometimes, I give them to casual observers of my License Plate: "TUNE IT". The book is available from Randy Potter and is a very inexpensive way to educate the piano public. Try it. You'll not regret it.
Regards, Joe Garrett - Oregon
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