[pianotech] Pitch raise criteria

[Dean May]

Heresy to some, gospel to me. Well put, John.

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

 



From: John Ross <jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pitch raise criteria
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Sunday, August 2, 2009, 8:03 AM

This may be heresy to some, and they are going to be mad at me, but I just
have to say it.

But I just can't see a pitch raise being necessary for a 2c change.

If it is a concert venue, the stage lights can make it vary more than that.

When I started, statements like that kind of scared me, I couldn't possibly
get that kind of accuracy.

Then I decided, I wasn't going to worry about it.

Let us be real, except for concert technician situations, a one of concert,
it isn't necessary.

If a piano is a lot out of pitch, then that customer doesn't really need,
the superfine tuning, so you are wasting their money, and your time. They
obviously don't need it.

How many times have you been called out, to be told, it has been a few years
since it was tuned, and it is still almost spot on?

I have this niggling feeling, that the people that make these 1 and 2 cent
statements, are trying to show people how good they are.

Different customers need different things, so tune and charge for the
service REQUIRED by the customer, not by your needs to pay your bills.

Mostly for pitch raises, I will tell them to call me back in a month or two,
as we are on a catch up situation, due to the too long a time between
tunings. I also tell them that because of the humidity changes, it never
really stays in tune anyway. 

So once again, why the need for a pitch raise every time a piano is tuned?

MOST people don't need it.

Oh to be fair, that depends on your clientele.

Most people won't be able to hear this 1 and 2 cent discrepancy.

So anyone new in the business, don't be put off by some of the claims made.

If your customers keep calling you back, then you are doing the job
correctly for them.

Oh yes, this is my 20th year for a University contract, that is given out
yearly. I retired from it for a year on my 70 the birthday, but missed doing
it, and they encouraged me to apply again, as they had always been satisfied
with my work. So I did, and I have it back.

The pianos, under a lot of you, would have needed a pitch raise every time I
tuned them, but the most I ever did was double tune to some areas. 40 pianos
done twice a year, and 3 of them concert grands, done 10 times or more in
the school year.

Some of the other tunings at the university were for concerts, and
recordings.

With the seasons here, it makes no sense to do a pitch raise for anything
under say 20 cents, and that is a guess. 

If it is out any amount I say you left it too long call me in a month or
two, or if you notice it sooner.

I also tell them, not to tune it through the summer, but to wait till the
heat is on in the Fall.

Different strokes for different folks, customers and tuners.

Oh yes, funny thing, I will probably get no comments on this. I don't know
if it is because people see my name and erase it, or don't want to be seen
as agreeing with me. LOL

John Ross

Windsor, Nova Scotia.

 

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