Well (sigh...) I guess if that's the case then that's that. Thanks to those of you who answered me. 

So you're saying that this is related to a problem with the game software itself?

This is happening in any lot... dorms, community, residential.

I don't have the violin -- I don't have and don't plan to get Freetime. But I have all other EPs up to and including BV, and I've installed all the patches available.

Please direct me to the fix if there is one... I've done searches on every variation of the problem I can think of and nothing viable comes up.

Here's what's happening: When my Sims play the piano for tips, the sound will work for a very brief time and then it's gone, just the Sim banging away on the keys in utter silence. Other Sims who join on drums, bass and/or guitar, the sound is fine. Just no piano.

I also have a problem on community lots where the wall speakers will have no sound coming out. And on some lots, I have sound coming out of the speakers on one floor and nothing from speakers on a different floor!

Also, nobuskers isn't working for me. I've got a Sims University lot going where I've had a piano, drums and bass and even with the nobuskers fix, not only do the playable Sims keep plopping down that stupid tip jar, but visitors walk in and do it, too! My Sims are pissing away their much-needed Simoleons giving huge tips to townies that aren't even supposed to be there!

Help!

Just another thanx and a big sloppy kiss to J.M. for fixing this annoying stereo FU. Now I can replace the Big Band music in the Three Lakes lots with the country music it should have. I like Big Band but it's not exactly in keeping with the mountain theme. Or am I promoting stereotypes?

Okay, I just got Nervous Subject back from Takemizu Village. While there, he greeted the WOM with a bow, at which point the old fart teleported away to some other point on the lot. Nervous served some tea but the WOM didn't join him; rather, he went over to the pond and started fishing. So after a couple drags of tea, Nervous joined the WOM fishing and they comingled their souls over the trout for a while, at which point the WOM told Nervous he was worthy or some crap and indicated he was going to tell him the Legend. But approaching Nervous, he started stamping his foot like there was something blocking him, then he went back to fishing. Nervous started to stink and I sent him back to his hotel for ablutions and a hot meal, then I had him return to the secret pagoda and the WOM was levitating by the tea set just like the first time Nervous visited the lot. In fairly short order, Nervous got the tale told. No tai chi involved and still no tea serving involving the old man. But he did bow.

Since we're so far off topic anyway, what the hell is the point of the stupid legend? I've had Nervous tell the damn story to five or six other Sims, and the only result I can see is that they got a few more points up the friendly scale. Whoop-dee-doo. Am I missing something?

P.S. The hack's working great for me, too. Just to steer it back to the topic at hand. 

What she said. Awesome, jfade!