It really needs it

[Farrell]

Yes, I have heard the same thing. I suspect it is a case where the piano owner does not really have much of a clue whether the piano is in tune or not - either someone has mentioned that it is out of tune, or they have in their mind that you need to tune the piano once a year - so it must be out of tune - "there, can't you hear it." And then there are those others that think the piano is perfectly in tune for 4 years and 364 days, but yes, by the time 5 years rolls around, it is out of tune.

The only time I am surprised by a piano owner, is when they are right!

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2002 7:04 AM
Subject: It really needs it


> Friends,
> 
> This current conversation brings to mind something I've often wondered
> about.  Sometimes when I arrive to give a piano its annual tuning the client
> will say, "It really needs it!"  Then I find that none of the unisons or
> intervals sound bad at all.  There are no real tone or regulation problems,
> either.  So how can this client, who is far from professional, think the
> piano "really needs it" when it is quite close?
> 
> I have several theories.  (1)  It sounded really bad six months ago when the
> humidity level threw it out of whack, and the client doesn't know that a
> piano can actually sound better as the humidity level approaches the level at
> which it was last tuned.  (2)  They are trying to justify in their own minds
> shelling out those bucks for the annual tuning.  (3)  They want to keep me on
> my toes.
> 
> Has anyone else run into this?  Any other theories?
> 
> Regards,
> Clyde Hollinger, RPT
> Lititz, PA, USA
> 
> Greg Newell wrote:
> 
> > Sorry! I guess I glossed over the fine tune part. Still I have my doubts
> > whether that will hold a year. I suppose a lot depends on the environment
> > it's in. I've had pianos within 3-5 cents throughout after 5 years. Still
> > with a 100 cents raise and only one additional pass ..... seems unlikely.
>