The pitch raise speech

[Aart in America Piano Services]

Thanks Mark.

On May 12, 2006, at 9:50 PM, Mark Dierauf wrote:

> 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
>>
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