This is a multipart message in MIME format ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment I agree, thats the way I do it... David I. ----- Original message ----------------------------------------> From: Mike McCoy <mjmccoy@usa.com> To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> Received: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 12:36:01 -0500 Subject: Re: A-440 and Ethics. I have yet to walk away from a piano leaving it flat, and the= majority of my customer base is 1920-30's uprights and I do it= all at once with RCT. Rarely do strings break and once I had 3,= but that was the most. I don't do this because of any philosophy= of mine, but because it has been what I learned from the Potter= course, convention classes and other techs I respect. It was= explained to me that early on that ear training is very= important for piano students. If the piano is intended for= lessons and it can not handle a pitch raise then it's time for a= different piano, but I have not had to condemn one yet. It is= also my understanding that if the plate breaks because of a= pitch raise/correction then there was most likely a defect in= the plate, is that not true?? Is a new student's progress hampered by a flat piano? Mike Mike McCoy Langhorne, Pa Alpha88x@aol.com wrote: Greetings, Usually, when I get a tuning call, it is a piano= which hasn't been kept up the tunings on. I always ask how long= since it was last tuned. They usually don't know. especially if= they have taken in an "orphan" piano. I do not like to raise the A4 pitch on any piano= more than say 1/4 a tone or so, if it's been neglectd tunings.= This is because I don't want to run the risk of cracking= anyone's harp plate, let alone breaking strings. Especially on= the little spinets, whose plates are 5/8" or less thick. When I get to the house, I check the A-440 and it's= octaves and get an idea of the overall tone of the piano; whrere= it went flat the most. I always explain the concept of A-440 to= the customer, and more times than not, it doesnt matter to them= if its up to A-440 or not. They just would like it in tune with itself. I also= explain that pianos are designed to be tuned to A-440 for best= results. (unless it is an extremely old, dry upright that's seen= better days and wont let you even gradually take it up that far,= even with subsequent tunings/loose pins or bridges coming off) I= tune it the best I can get it, to sound at the A-4?? and suggest= subsequent tunings so we can gradually get it there. They agree= to a reminder card from me for follow ups ....say, 4 to 6 mo for= the first follow-up. I also inform them that with each tuning= the piano becomes more stable and to never let a piano go more= than 2 years max. On hearing these pianos, they are so, so neglected and= out of tune, the piano always sounds better upon my departure,= and thats all alot of folks want in order to start the kid's= lessons, without paying "an arm and a leg". With customers who= are more vigilant of how their piano sounds is another matter. My tuning teacher used to say "As long as it sounds a= lot better when you leave than from when you arrived". Julia, Reading, PA ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/43/c1/ce/41/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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