pitch of old upright

[John Ross]

It depends on what it is being used for.
If someone is taking lessons, I take it up.
If it is played with other instruments I take it up.
I should have said at the start, that I take it up to A440 the majority of times, and I inform the owner of that possibility of broken strings at the start. I tell them a few strings, ok, but if a lot start breaking, I will go back to the original pitch.
If that happens and it is being used seriously, I tell them they should look for another piano.
I remember one, years ago, that all of one gauge broke, so I assume it was a bad batch of wire. The owner at that time, had me change that gauge.
So in ending, if it is used, it should be at pitch.  
I haven't found that raising 50c makes any  difference to the breakage rate. 
30+ years ago, I was raising the pitch in one, and strings broke, so I tuned it at the pitch it was at, and strings broke, I tuned it down, and strings broke. It was a nightmare, and thankfully I never ran into one like it again.
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: wimblees at aol.com 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2008 2:18 PM
  Subject: Re: pitch of old upright


  On most old uprights. I don't take any chances of breaking strings, much less the soundboard or the plate, and just tune it where it's at. Unless this piano needs to be on pitch with other instruments, I don't see the need to pull it up, even if it's up to 50 cents flat. 


  Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT
  Piano Tuner/Technician
  Mililani, Oahu, HI
  808-349-2943
  Author of: 
  The Business of Piano Tuning
  available from Potter Press
  www.pianotuning.com


  -----Original Message-----
  From: reggaepass at aol.com
  To: pianotech at ptg.org
  Sent: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 1:40 am
  Subject: pitch of old upright


  List,

  A client has a Reed and Sons upright, made in Chicago in 1907.  It was last tuned three years ago, but is currently 20 to 45 cents flat.  Features include a full plate, agraffes throughout the tenor and treble, continuous brass hammer rail flange, and balance rail pins that start at the top of the keys and protrude UP into the balance rail .  Does anyone know what pitch this instrument is designed for?

  Thanks,

  Alan Eder 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  McCain or Obama? Stay updated on coverage of the Presidential race while you browse - Download Now! 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  McCain or Obama? Stay updated on coverage of the Presidential race while you browse - Download Now! 
John M.Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20081012/9b0b4a75/attachment.html