The pitch raise speech

[Mark Dierauf]

The latter.

- Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Aart in America Piano Services
[mailto:aartinamerica at optonline.net] 
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 5:20 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: The pitch raise speech

Hello All.

Regarding overpull, are you referring to going sharp of pitch and then 
lowering, or going sharp and leaving it there anticipating string 
stretch for a second pass?

Thanks,

Aart

On May 12, 2006, at 4:42 PM, Mark Dierauf wrote:

> On reflection I believe that I encounter far more string breakage when
> starting within -5 cents of pitch than I do from -50 cents or more,
and
> living in the northeast it is not uncommon for even better maintained
> pianos to be flatter than 20 cents in the depth of winter. Plate 
> failure
> has been virtually unknown to me since I started tuning almost 30
years
> ago, and considering how many basement pianos I've tuned with highly
> suspect or already failed glue joints in the backs I have concluded 
> that
> virtually all plates are much stronger than necessary to support full
> string tension at A-440.
>
> Look carefully for evidence of past string breakage (tied strings,
> "borrowed" coils, as well as missing or obviously replaced strings), 
> and
> DO protect yourself with warnings to owners of neglected instruments.
> But having done that, pitch-raise away using overpull! If strings are
> going to break I'd rather find out 5 minutes into a quick pitch-raise
> than 45 minutes into a slow methodical one.
>
> Also be wary of spinets where the extreme angle of the wire between
the
> tuning pin and the bearing bar causes the wire to cross its own coil
on
> the bottom row of tuning pins. These are almost guaranteed to break
> eventually.
>
>
> - Mark Dierauf
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Doepke [mailto:doepkeb at comcast.net]
> Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 1:26 PM
> To: 'Pianotech List'
> Subject: RE: The pitch raise speech
>
> If the piano is more that 20 cents under, and the piano is older and
> neglected, I explain that there is a higher chance of the strings
> breaking
> if I were to pull the string tension all the way back up to
> standard/factory
> tension.  I do explain to them that, based on how far flat it is, it 
> may
> take a few tunings to get the piano back to standard pitch.  Most
folks
> say
> that they understand and are embarrassed that the piano went so long
> without
> service.  But, they are very happy after the tuning...even though it 
> may
> not
> be up to standard pitch..because it sounds so much better to them.
>
> Does that make sense?
>
> Brian P. Doepke
>  
> AAA Piano Works, Inc.
> 260-432-2043
> 260-417-1298
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
> Behalf
> Of Michelle Smith
> Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 12:36 PM
> To: Pianotech List
> Subject: The pitch raise speech
>
> As a new tuner, I have read with much interest the non-emotional
> speech given to customers concerning the possible outcomes of a pitch
> raise.  (Plate failure, string breakage, etc.)
>
> Is there a certain point (cents-wise) that you give this speech or is
> it based more on the condition/age of the instrument?
>
> Also, I'm assuming the customer's answer is usually in favor of the
> pitch raise.  What do you do when they don't want to risk it?  Go
> home or tune the piano to itself?
>
> Thanks for sharing your experiences.
>
> Michelle Smith
> Student Tuner
> Bastrop, Texas
>
>
>
>
>
>
>