Archive for August, 2019

Piano Technician’s Guild Tucson 2019

Posted on: August 27th, 2019 by WNG

What happens when the largest group of Piano Technicians in the world gather? Collaboration. Creativity. Reconnection. At this year’s July PTG in Tucson, Arizona, technicians, pianists, and experts in the piano field and industry gathered to share new ideas, knowledge, and techniques for three solid days of classes and exhibits. Many technicians visited our Wessell, Nickel & Gross booth and we asked them what features they liked best about our products. The overwhelming consensus was our innovative designs and materials, which give our actions low maintenance and convenience—saving technicians and customers time, energy, and money. Delwin Fandrich, the famed piano designer, said it best at this year’s convention:

“When I started driving cars, I had to rebuild the engine in my car every 50,000 miles. If my engine gives me any trouble now at less than 300,000 miles, I’m going to be upset, and yet, we still tell customers that you are going to have to have your piano tuned two or three times a year, and, oh by the way, you are going to have to regulate the action and you are going to have to fix sticky bushings. Buyers today don’t like that—they want something trouble free.”

The owner of Wessell, Nickel & Gross, Kirk Burgett, was also present at this year’s PTG. He enjoyed meeting new technicians and seeing familiar faces at the Convention and at the Wessell, Nickel & Gross booth. “It’s been exciting, we’ve had new technicians trying out our new products… At this convention, it’s been a wonderful time because people we haven’t seen for years have been here. Technicians around the States and internationally have been doing training here—it’s actually been a really wonderful time getting to know people again.”

At Wessell, Nickel & Gross we strive to empower technicians with not only great products that make installation, regulation, and tuning easier, but also extensive knowledge and technical services and resources through our website and classes. We’re committed to providing only the very best tools and products that give you the stability, consistency, and flexibility you need for your customers.

An Interview with Jim Busby

Posted on: August 21st, 2019 by WNG

Introduction

My name is Jim Busby and I live in Mount Pleasant, Utah and I’ve been in piano tuning and technology for about 44 years.

How did you become a full time Piano Technician?

Well, actually my uncle was a piano technician and I’ve always thought I’d tune pianos because I liked my uncle so much, and I just tuned on the side and then one year I decided to quit school for a little while and I was going to come back in, but I never got back into teaching again so I just found out I had an aptitude for it and I liked it and actually made more money than teaching so win, win.

When was the first time you encountered Wessell, Nickel & Gross parts?

I think the first time I was exposed to them was at Brigham Young University. We had a Mason & Hamlin there—an A, a really nice piano. I really liked the way it felt and then I went to Boston for a visit and I decide to tour the factory and spent the day there. I fell in love with the people there. I loved the factory and the people were so good to work with and there is kind of a small feeling in the factory and I just loved the way it felt there. I loved the dedication the people put into their parts and the things they were doing there.

What is your experience with Wessell, Nickel & Gross parts?

Well my experience with Wessel, Nickel & Gross parts is mainly is at BYU. I had a fellow colleague that bought some and we hung some hammers with the shanks and flanges and there is just nothing like them. They were so even, and I put it on a piano, a 9-foot Steinway, and I had the faculty come and play the piano, and they were saying how wonderful it was and how much quicker it played and responsive it was. So, I put it on two more pianos and the same thing with the faculty—they just loved it because it was so responsive, and it is just very dependable. It stayed where you put the regulation. The next day that you came, the next month that you came, the next year it still stayed regulated very well and very easy to maintain.

What are your thoughts on our hard bushings?

You know, at first, I was skeptical of them but now I just love them because after years and years it doesn’t vary. It’s 3.5 grams for the flanges and years later it’s still 3.5 grams unlike the other bushings—the cloth bushings—and so I’m very sold on the parts.

In your opinion, do the carbon fiber shanks change the tone of a piano?

That’s a good question. You know, some people think it changes the sound of the piano, but I didn’t perceive that. And most people that I had play our pianos with the new Wessell, Nickel & Gross parts didn’t perceive any tone change—just more velocity and control—but I really didn’t see the difference that other people talk about and I think my ear is pretty good and I didn’t perceive any huge difference. In fact, not even a little difference with them—it’s just was easier to play. I didn’t notice any different tone quality or anything.

Find out more about Jim Busby by visiting his website: http://www.pianotechniciantutorials.com/index.php