Its unfortunate there have been delays in getting repairs and batteries replaced in Sanderson Accu Tuners. The company is a small operation that has served our profession well and we need to recognize all that have done for us. I suspect a number of problems in hiring and retaining electronic technicians may be at the center of delays and slow turn arounds. During Covid my Accu-Tuner III suddenly had a seizure and was randomly flashing numbers and letters. I sent it in and had it tested, a new battery installed and blue LED display replacing the red lights. It was cleaned up and it looked new. Granted it took a few weeks I was something like #23 in line. I checked with them every other week as it steadily moved up the line. In the interim I was able to purchase an AccuTuner IV which paid for itself.
I ran into a long delay trying to get replacement brass casters for a Yamaha G2 Grand. Clients pets had used the wheels as fire hydrants and they also destroyed the lyre, pedals and pedal box. It took 15 weeks to get new casters and only 2 arrived. Another 2 weeks went by before the 3rd caster arrived. Yamaha did search their warehouse and found the exact short lyre in the same finish that I needed.
It is not easy these days to recruit and retain dependable workers and training electronic technicians is extremely difficult when many young people have the attention spans of a fly. The shortage of trained technicians has gotten so severe that our state is giving students tuition free training in a number of tech trades such as HVAC, electricians, plumbers, computers. Most states have the same problem
I certainly hope Paul Sanderson can keep the company running or find a buyer if he retires. All I can say is my SAT III was over 20 years old with the original battery in it before I sent it in. Very few electronic devices make it that far and many are not repairable. We are lucky that Al Sanderson had the ability to develop a device that has served technicians well these many years and that can be repaired.
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James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
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