Wim/Pitch raise experiment

[Greg Newell]

Not in my opinion Sid. I think the needs of the customer always come first. That
being said I will try to impress upon those who can possibly afford it that it
is best for the student if the piano is up to pitch. In the case of your
customer they should either pay for the repairs or save for another piano.
    I have suggested to customers in the past that one idea is a pay to play
method to save money. Put some money in a jar each time you play. In a short
while they will be on their way to another piano if they can avoid the
temptation to dip into the savings.
    I'm fond of explaining AND SHOWING the customer what I see and what I
perceive their options to be. I try to emphasize what I believe to be the best
thing for them to do but the choice is up to them. I feel it is my duty to give
them the information they need to make an informed decision on something that
belongs to them, not me!
 Greg

sid blum wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 8:47 PM
> Subject: Re: Wim/Pitch raise experiment
>
> > I base pitch raising fee on number on pitch raising passes. That piano
> would
> > have gotten two pitch raise passes charged at 0.5 times regular tuning fee
> > each. First pass up to pitch and the second pass with the appropriate
> small
> > overpull (actually I often go through the top two octaves or so an
> > additional time to minimize the amount of overpull needed).
> >
> > Terry Farrell
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Kevin E. Ramsey" <ramsey@extremezone.com>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 8:23 PM
> > Subject: Re: Wim/Pitch raise experiment
> >
> >
> > >     If we're taking a vote here, you can count me with Greg and Joe.
> Last
> > > Friday I did a 114 cent pitch raise on one of those big ol' Cable
> > uprights,
> > > made in about 1925. It was a little like tip-toeing through a mine
> field,
> > > but didn't break a single string. Used CLP, just as a preventative
> > measure.
> > > Checked bridges and struts before I started too. Good thing it was the
> > last
> > > one of the day. I decided right then, that the next time I do that I'm
> > going
> > > to have to charge more than I did this time. ( Which was my normal fee
> > times
> > > 1.5)  Next time, it's double.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
> > > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 3:29 PM
> > > Subject: Re: Wim/Pitch raise experiment
> > >
> > >
> > > > Dave, Wim and list,
> > > >     You may wish to start lubricating the strings with Protek CPL
> before
> > > > tuning these old beasts. I'm with Joe on this one. What good is a
> piano
> > > > that's perpetually flat in pitch? Isn't ear training just as important
> > as
> > > > finger training? I raise pitch on these old beasties all the time.
> They
> > > > have all come through just fine without so much as a whimper. I'm sure
> > > > your also aware of how much livelier they sound when up to the pitch
> > they
> > > > were designed for. Never fails to get a "WOW" from the customer.
> > > >     my two cents.
>
> There are various issues here that I'm always trying to juggle, including
> string breakage, structural problems, flatness versus tubbiness, and maybe,
> most importantly, the most appropriate approach for the customer at the
> moment.   Yesterday it was a seventy five year old upright which was more or
> less functional except for the bass bridge...  Serious crack along the lower
> pins, looked like tuning might be stable enough if additional string tension
> didn't exacerbate the problem. Still enough side bearing on the upper pins
> that it didn't sound horrible.  Average pitch around fifty cents flat.
> These people can not afford even an epoxy job (of witch I still am not
> convinced).
>
> I have been fearlessly doing 150 cent pitch raises for years, but in this
> case advised to leave piano flat and save money towards new piano.  Was I
> shortchanging my customer?
>
> (Oh yes, I charge 150% for pitch raises, the rate goes DOWN for each pass
> since it is so fast)

--
Greg Newell
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net