[pianotech] Pitch raise criteria

Duaine & Laura Hechler dahechler at att.net
Sun Aug 2 13:47:38 MDT 2009


David,

Please explain yourself ......

Duaine

David Ilvedson wrote:
> 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
>>     
>
>   


-- 
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



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