Tuning stability and efficiency

[Ben Gac]

Well Terry, I'll try not to let my bruised ego get too
offended ;)  I am an RPT, and in fact just took the
tuning exam again at the convention this last June in
order to begin training to be a CTE.  I don't want to
spout my credentials to everyone to show how great of
a tuner I am, but if you're interested you can read my
bio on my webpage, www.benspianotuning.com.  

Overall, despite my training and my fun and fortunate
experiences, I just can't stop thinking about the BEST
way to tune.  We all have something to learn, and I
like to explore an many avenues as possible to get the
best result.  I think that one can't call something
his own unless he finds it himself; and that's what
I'm looking for in this particular facet of the trade.
I'm sure there will be many more questions to come...

I learned how to tune by using a strip, and for some
of us the habit dies hard, especially when a new
method takes longer!  I suppose I could have re-worded
"pitch raise" as well--I meant to use the phrase to
label those types of pianos that would without
question need more than one pass to get in tune.  I
suppose that in the end I should consider doing more
than one pass instead of teetering on the edge of
passable with one pass!  Thanks for your help, Terry. 


-Ben Gac, RPT
"Answers are for those who don't have the courage to
live with questions."

______________

Ben - Can I assume your are a beginner at piano
tuning? Have you taken any sort of course? What avenue
have you taken for training? I don't mean to be
condescending with my comments here, but this is as
fundamental to piano tuning as anything gets. If you
have not studied from some authoritative source, I
highly recommend pursuit of such.
 
That being said, yes, you are correct - a piano must
be at or within a couple cents of standard pitch to
tune it - especially aurally. Any time you make
significant tension changes to a string, you affect
the pitch of nearby strings. The more accurate that
you want the tuning, the closer to pitch everything
needs to be at the start.
 
"...aren't quite 'pitch raise material....." Just
completely exorcise that phrase from your head! Pitch
has nothing at all to do with the quality or age or
condition of a piano - period. A beat up 1951 Betsy
Ross spinet has just as much need to be tuned to
standard pitch as the new Fazioli grand in the bay
window overlooking the lake - in fact it may be even
more important because the kids may actually be
permitted to PLAY the Betsy Ross.  99+% of pianos that
I come to that are flat, I raise up to standard pitch
with a separate pitch raise pass and I charge for it.
The only time I don't is if it is someone (little old
lady?) who isn't taking lessons, doesn't play with
other instruments, isn't doing choir practice, etc.,
etc. AND has expressed a desire to "tune" the piano as
economically as is possible.
 
My standard tuning fee is $95 - a good one-pass tuning
takes me about 75 to 90 minutes. I charge $45 per
pitch raise pass - one pass takes me 40 minutes or so.
Pianos that are somewhere in the 60 to 80 cents flat
range or more will require more than one pitch raise
pass.
 
Paul brought up a great point - float the pitch
whenever possible.
 
Hope this helps.
 
Terry Farrell