Okay, that's good. Now, how's this...
Whenever I do a pitch correction more than about 10 cents, I always
inform the client that the piano will not hold this tuning as long and
as well as the piano is otherwise capable of. This is especially true
for the once-in-a-decade crowd.
I explain that seasonal changes are a big factor but that if the piano
is tuned regularly, it will begin to stabilize better between tunings.
If the piano is healthy, I also tell them that I will never charge them
for pitch corrections, even if one is needed--provided that I tune the
piano at least twice a year--once a year for sweet little old ladies
with Acrosonics.
I know we've had discussions about paying for pc's. Except as above, I
ALWAYS charge and I explain why to the customer. To me it is a selling
point for more regular tunings and an education for the client. Plus,
pc's are more work and I deserve to be paid--I'm trading expertise for
money, not just time for money. I always explain--at least briefly--the
science of it all. It seems to be well accepted.
Point: I think the above spiel covers me if the tuning DOES go a little
south after a big pitch change.
BUT one other thing: I put a lot of energy into each string when I
perform a pc--POUND, POUND, POUND. I want those strings to move under MY
control, not while Ms. Pianowner is rapping out really raucous
Rachmaninoff rhapsodies.
Not 12 cents here, just my little 2 cents. Does it make "cents?"
Alan R. Barnard
Salem, MO
-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On
Behalf Of Greg Newell
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 5:16 PM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Re: This Needs A Definitive Settlement was RE: 12 cents
John,
I wholeheartedly agree. I for one am very glad I'm not
personally
paying for what some on this list consider to be necessary. Seems to me
like more sales than service. For the vast majority of our collective
clientelle this is WAY overkill IMO. I would even go as far to say that
it
puts a black mark on our profession. Perhaps those that do this should
continue to change their motor oil every 100-200 miles until it begins
to
runs clean. Perhaps that illustrates my point somewhat loosely.
Greg Newell
At 04:54 PM 6/30/2003, you wrote:
>I can see in a concert situation, being this fussy.
>But I feel for the majority of people, this is overkill. Especially if
it is
>in an area that has short term humidity changes.
>It is really overkill, for the people that have them tuned every 5 or
10
>years, whether they need it or not.
>I am talking as someone, that does not just tune grands, and tune them
>multiple times a year, and say a pitch raise is needed for some small
over,
>or under amount of cents. Maybe some people would notice, but I don't
think
>I ever ran into any of them.
>Lets face it the humidity variations day to day, can make some
difference,
>so is it really worth it to be so picky? If the customer mentions it,
yes.
>How many of you have had a customer complain about a piano being off a
>couple of cents?
> Unisons being off, yes.
>Are some people trying to impress others, about how exact they are?
>Should I, or shouldn't I send this??
>Awe what the heck, why not. :-)
>Regards,
>John M. Ross
>Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
>jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Thomas Cole" <tcole@cruzio.com>
>To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 4:27 PM
>Subject: Re: This Needs A Definitive Settlement was RE: 12 cents
>
>
> > I'm not aware of any science other than what Dr. Sanderson has done,
but
> > I remember hearing about a demonstration of string settling that was
> > performed at Tuners Supply, Sunnyvale, CA some years back (by one of
the
> > early California settlers ;-).
> >
> > An old upright was pitch raised to 440, after which the back of the
> > soundboard was pounded vigorously with a rubber mallet, along the
line
> > of the long bridge, and it was later found that the tuning had
slipped
> > significantly.
> >
> > I'm not suggesting this as a method of doing single-visit pitch
raises
> > as it probably wouldn't go over well with most owners - this was
only a
> > demonstration, after all, and it tends to verify what Ron N. posted
> > about friction across the bridge.
> >
> > Another thought is that if a tuner were to delay the second tuning
for a
> > couple of weeks, it might not help matters much of the piano were
not
> > played during that interval. If the pitch raise is not challenged by
> > pounding or significant weather changes, I would doubt that a
majority
> > of the strings are going to ooze through the bridge pins on their
own.
> > So it may be a judgment call whether it's better to come back for
the
> > fine tuning.
> >
> > An interesting experiment, which might even work in the field, would
be
> > to apply some kind of vibration to the soundboard after a pitch
raise.
> > You could warn the customer about the unusual noise it would
produce,
> > and it wouldn't look like you were trying to destroy the instrument.
> >
> > Tom Cole
> >
> > Alan wrote:
> >
> > >Don wrote: "...if you pitch correct a piano ... and then tune it
... you
> > >may find that you wish you had waited to do the fine tuning. Piano
> > >frames shift. Sometimes this shift is very dramatic at the bass
break or
> > >other areas."
> > >
> > >I may be wrong (always a distinct possibility) but didn't Dr.
Sanderson
> > >and others test this whole business and determine that all changes
to
> > >the piano caused by changing string tensions are immediate?
> > >
> > >I'd have to go back and look, but I'm pretty certain that Randy
Potter
> > >has cited this information and stated, in effect, that the
time-honored
> > >belief that pianos needed to "settle" following a pitch correction
was
> > >not correct.
> > >
> > >As this issue has a definite impact on the way we conduct business,
I'd
> > >like to see a definitive answer here, not just opinions or
anecdotal
> > >experiences.
> > >
> > >Anything, anyone?
> > >
> > >Alan Barnard
> > >Salem, MO
> > >
> > >---
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> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> >
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
Greg Newell
Greg's piano Forté
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
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