[pianotech] Pitch raise criteria

[David Ilvedson]

That figures...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Duaine & Laura Hechler" <dahechler at att.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 8/1/2009 9:31:04 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pitch raise criteria


>Rob, et al,

>Some of you may never have witnessed a "real" pitch raise - meaning 5 -
>40 cents flat is nothing.

>I build in a little extra charge (pitch raise charge, if you must label
>it) for all of my first time customers because they have rarely been
>tuned in the last, say 5 to 25 years. Most of my first time'rs are
>anywhere from 50 to 120 cents flat.

>I even had one customer tell me it's never been tuned except when it
>left the showroom floor.

>Plus, I always ask my customers when was it last tuned - their answer
>then tells me what I'm going to charge for the first time. If they don't
>know, I tell them a range and determine what the charge is when I get
>there by depending how far out of tune it is.

>The Cybertuner allows for three setting of pitch raises (1) 0 to 60
>cents flat (2) 60 to 100 cents flat and (3) over 100 cents flat. (I
>think these are right)

>This gives me the opportunity to do a pretty damn good job in one pass.
>(Of course, its not going to be too stable, but at least its going to be
>in tune). I - always - tell them that because it was so flat that it's
>going to need a tuning in a month or so. When they call back to schedule
>another tuning I charge my standard rate.

>That is my criteria,
>Duaine

>Rob McCall wrote:
>> Greetings list,
>>
>> I just tuned a Samick JS-118 upright yesterday that hadn't been tuned
>> in 7 years (It had 1 tuning right after they bought it brand new and
>> that was it!).  It was flat by about 73 cents below the break, and
>> about 45 cents flat above the break.  Pretty consistent throughout. 
>> All in all, it turned out very well after a pitch raise and then a
>> fine tune.
>>
>> My question to all of you...  What do you use as your criteria for
>> charging extra for pitch raises?  When is it a "pitch raise" to you?
>> This particular piano was pretty clear cut, but do you have a point of
>> no return?  20-25 cents? Less or more?
>>
>> I use a SAT IV along with some aural checks to back the machine up...
>>
>> I'm still earning my wings in this industry and I'm trying to get an
>> idea of what is considered normal (if there is such a thing!). Thanks
>> in advance.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Rob McCall
>> Murrieta, CA
>>


>-- 
>Duaine Hechler
>Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ
>Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
>Reed Organ Society Member
>Florissant, MO 63034
>(314) 838-5587
>dahechler at att.net
>www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
>--
>Home & Business user of Linux - 10 years