This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Glad this topic came up. I run into this situation fairly often. There = is one tooner in the area who seems to have very seldom addressed the = issue of pitch with his clients. So, I have to deal with pianos that are = pretty consistently about a half-step low.=20 Standard procedure of mine: 1) Explain to customer the situation and the alternatives for dealing = with it. Emphasize the value of A-440, including the use of the piano = with other instruments.=20 2) Apply Pro-Tek to upper bearing points, CAREFULLY!! 3) Even out the tension over the entire piano, if it is grossly more = flat in some area(s) (usually the treble). 4) Raise pitch quickly, aiming either for A-440 or to obtain a max of = about 50 cents rise. Don't over-pull more than 10 or 15 cents if = possible.=20 5) If pitch raising pass ended up, say, 15 or 20 cents low, make another = pitch raising pass to get it to A-440. 6) Generally, I don't like to raise pitch more than about 50 cents per = visit as this seems to results in greater instability later. 7) Do a nice tuning AT A-440, really working to set the pins and render = the strings well to achieve maximum stability. By working "fast and dirty" for the early stages of this, I can stay = within my usual time budget and not have to charge any more for the = pitch-raise part.=20 By working hard and doing the "heavy lifting" of stabilising the piano = early in my tenure with it, I make for an easy time for myself later. = Frankly, it's kind of nice to hear repeatedly, "Oh, the other tuner = never did all that!", or, "Wow, you sure are thorough!", or "You know, = my church has six million pianos. When can you get to those?". Like = that.=20 For myself, the biggest "pay off" is when I hear that Little Suzie or = Mighty Mike is spending more time practising for their piano lessons and = is enjoying it more. Never forget, even in the middle muddle of trudging = through a seemingly helpless and hopeless little POS spinet, just how = music affects human lives. Never.=20 I give due warnings about possible string breakage. It happens to me = maybe once ever 150 or 200 tunings. I've also had to deal with a couple = of cracked plates in 15 years. But, I also factor in to the decision = making process the likely future stability of the instrument. A fair = percentage of the time, the customer elects to just leave the piano = flat. It just is not all that tremendously important to them. Sad, but = true.=20 ProTek on the bearing points really does seem to make a huge difference = in reducing string breakage and in ease of tuning.=20 Take care, everyone, Robin Blankenship Southside Piano Service Matoaca, Virginia ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/52/17/bc/60/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC