Pianotech

I was called by a gentleman who needed some cork bridle straps.  I happened to have a few extra boxes, so I agreed to meet him and sell one to him.  He told me his name and that  he had "stumbled" onto an idea of refurbishing old pianos and putting them on the internet to sell.  He said he had decided to get a small business loan and start picking up free pianos that people were giving away on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace etc. He had just sold an upright for $3000 that he polished up and was going to put the bridle straps on.
I asked him where he learned to rebuild pianos and he said he was an engineer in the army and he figured it wasn't very difficult to transfer that type of learning to restoring pianos. He wanted me to come show him how to tune a piano because he figured he could pick that up quick.  He said "how hard can it be"?    I told him I was very busy, but I wished him good fortune in his endeavors.  I didn't want to rain on his parade by mentioning that it takes years of skill to be able to rebuild a piano.

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PATRICK GREENE
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
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Original Message:
Sent: 1/30/2023 9:33:00 AM
From: PATRICK GREENE
Subject: It can't be that difficult...

I was called by a gentleman who needed some cork bridle straps.  I happened to have a few extra boxes, so I agreed to meet him and sell one to him.  He told me his name and that  he had "stumbled" onto an idea of refurbishing old pianos and putting them on the internet to sell.  He said he had decided to get a small business loan and start picking up free pianos that people were giving away on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace etc. He had just sold an upright for $3000 that he polished up and was going to put the bridle straps on.
I asked him where he learned to rebuild pianos and he said he was an engineer in the army and he figured it wasn't very difficult to transfer that type of learning to restoring pianos. He wanted me to come show him how to tune a piano because he figured he could pick that up quick.  He said "how hard can it be"?    I told him I was very busy, but I wished him good fortune in his endeavors.  I didn't want to rain on his parade by mentioning that it takes years of skill to be able to rebuild a piano.

------------------------------
PATRICK GREENE
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 1/30/2023 9:33:00 AM
From: PATRICK GREENE
Subject: It can't be that difficult...

I was called by a gentleman who needed some cork bridle straps.  I happened to have a few extra boxes, so I agreed to meet him and sell one to him.  He told me his name and that  he had "stumbled" onto an idea of refurbishing old pianos and putting them on the internet to sell.  He said he had decided to get a small business loan and start picking up free pianos that people were giving away on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace etc. He had just sold an upright for $3000 that he polished up and was going to put the bridle straps on.
I asked him where he learned to rebuild pianos and he said he was an engineer in the army and he figured it wasn't very difficult to transfer that type of learning to restoring pianos. He wanted me to come show him how to tune a piano because he figured he could pick that up quick.  He said "how hard can it be"?    I told him I was very busy, but I wished him good fortune in his endeavors.  I didn't want to rain on his parade by mentioning that it takes years of skill to be able to rebuild a piano.

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PATRICK GREENE
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Patrick,

Maybe this guy was one involved in reverse engineering alien spacecraft. If so he SURELY would be able to rebuild pianos :😉 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

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Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-30-2023 10:51
From: Debra Legg
Subject: It can't be that difficult...

My dad was an electrical engineer in development engineering. Yep, he thought most things possible. BUT, the distinction was that he also knew his limitations. Yes, he restored and/or renovated 7 homes. Yes, he built our own inground swimming pool. Even built a gorgeous 36 ft ferro-cement ketch (sailboat). He never tried doing piano work although he was a great shop companion who would help with stuff he knew...tooling, fixtures, power tools, electrical and more...

Side note: he was "tone deaf" even kicked out of children's choir as a youngster 

Original Message:
Sent: 1/30/2023 9:33:00 AM
From: PATRICK GREENE
Subject: It can't be that difficult...

I was called by a gentleman who needed some cork bridle straps.  I happened to have a few extra boxes, so I agreed to meet him and sell one to him.  He told me his name and that  he had "stumbled" onto an idea of refurbishing old pianos and putting them on the internet to sell.  He said he had decided to get a small business loan and start picking up free pianos that people were giving away on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace etc. He had just sold an upright for $3000 that he polished up and was going to put the bridle straps on.
I asked him where he learned to rebuild pianos and he said he was an engineer in the army and he figured it wasn't very difficult to transfer that type of learning to restoring pianos. He wanted me to come show him how to tune a piano because he figured he could pick that up quick.  He said "how hard can it be"?    I told him I was very busy, but I wished him good fortune in his endeavors.  I didn't want to rain on his parade by mentioning that it takes years of skill to be able to rebuild a piano.

------------------------------
PATRICK GREENE
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Hi, Patrick. 

What he is doing is not really "rebuilding", but rather a limited degree of refurbishment. 

But he will likely advertise as "rebuilt". Nothing we can do about free trade. 

Good idea to steer clear of him. It might otherwise come back to bite you when he drops your name. 



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Dave Conte, RPT

Resident Technician
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville TN
(817) 307-5656
Owner: Rocky Top Piano
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-30-2023 09:33
From: PATRICK GREENE
Subject: It can't be that difficult...

I was called by a gentleman who needed some cork bridle straps.  I happened to have a few extra boxes, so I agreed to meet him and sell one to him.  He told me his name and that  he had "stumbled" onto an idea of refurbishing old pianos and putting them on the internet to sell.  He said he had decided to get a small business loan and start picking up free pianos that people were giving away on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace etc. He had just sold an upright for $3000 that he polished up and was going to put the bridle straps on.
I asked him where he learned to rebuild pianos and he said he was an engineer in the army and he figured it wasn't very difficult to transfer that type of learning to restoring pianos. He wanted me to come show him how to tune a piano because he figured he could pick that up quick.  He said "how hard can it be"?    I told him I was very busy, but I wished him good fortune in his endeavors.  I didn't want to rain on his parade by mentioning that it takes years of skill to be able to rebuild a piano.

------------------------------
PATRICK GREENE
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------