[pianotech] Clarification Question: i'll take a pass

[Scott Helms, RPT]

OH!  I forgot to mention, Bill, that by having a policy to do 2 visits on
every pitch raise (for me, about 10c is the "magic number", if it's been
longer than a year since the piano was tuned), I don't really have to
think too much about the "magic number" in terms of whether I can get by
with a single-visit pitch correction and tuning in one visit. I guess I
base my decision on a combination of where the pitch is, and how long the
customer has neglected service. Of course, if I find a piano that hasn't
been tuned in more than a year and it's only 5c off, I won't do 2
appointments. That, in my opinion, WOULD constitute gouging.

Scott
------
Scott A. Helms, Registered Piano Technician
480-818-3871
www.helmsmusic.net






>
> Hi Paul, Ah, Vacation!!? Always sounds nice... sorry to bother.
>
> I understand your concern for list "hard" numbers.? I'm just
> looking for some ballpark ideas.? No guarantees.? Rough SWAG's.
> (Scientific Wild Axx Guesses)? Guidelines.
>
>
>
> I get a fair number of "I'm not sure when it was tuned last" answers,
> & I'm in the process of rethinking the "pitch raise & tune" 1-visit.
>
>
>
> And any suggestions or guidelines I can get might give the customer
> (and me) a better tuning... aka break the previous 1-visit into
> 2 separate "standard charge" tunings about 4 weeks apart,
> which are characterized by a pitch raise or two & a rough tune...
> and then a 2nd visit which could be a minor pitch raise & "fine tune".
>
>
>
> But I do not want to overwork the customer's budget & good faith.
>
> Thank you very much...?? Bill Fritz
>
>
> From: PAULREVENKOJONES at aol.com
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Clarification Question:? i'll take a pass
>
> Bill:
> ?
> I am on vacation right now and if I have time when I return I'll consider
> whether I have answers to your questions. Let me say now that I rarely put
> numbers to these things and have found it dangerous and unprofitable when?
> giving advice.
> ?
> Also, there is no contradiction between what I said in GR and what I said?
> in the post. I pull the piano all the way up (overpulled) on the first
> pass?
> every time. It may take another stabilizing pitch pass before attempting?
> any kind of decent tuning. Wherein do you see a conflict?
> ?
> Paul
> ?
> ?
> In a message dated 8/25/2009 10:59:32 A.M. Central Daylight Time,?
> pianofritz50 at aol.com writes:
>
> Hi Paul,
> ?
> I very much appreciated our conversations during the Convention about?
> this
> subject, and I think I remember you said that one should? pitch raise to
> A440, rather than take the piano up slowly over a series of? periodic
> tunings... but I'm a somewhat confused w/ your posting of the? following
> vs the
> PTG Convention statement.?
> ?
> I'm wondering if you could please clarify a few points indicated by the?
> >>:
> ?
> I know? it's possible to raise the pitch & fine tuning in one visit.
> However, just because you CAN do it doesn't mean that you SHOULD do it.
> I personally disagree with this sentiment as a generalization.? It's?
> possible to raise the pitch and adequately tune the piano in one sitting?
> if the raise is not ridiculously excessive.
> ?
>>>? What's the ballpark -xx cents number you're talking about being
> "ridiculously excessive"?
> ?
> It may be possible to raise the pitch and "fine tune" if the raise is
> within a narrow range.
> ?
>>>? Ballpark -xx cents number for this "fine tune" situation?
> ?
> Concert work often calls for the latter.? Johnny's home piano is typical
> of
> the former. And if Johnny is any good, plan on coming back in a month or
> so to do a more than
> adequate tuning. Radically flat pianos won't really stabilize for? several
> tunings.?
> ?
>>>? What negative? cents numbers are "radical", that would need "several
> tunings"... over what period of time?
> ?
>>>? Maybe one final? question...?? could you provide a differentiation of
> "adequate" and? "fine tune"... either in "cents" or some other
> quantitative
> answer (aka? stability over time, or whatever)
> ?
> Thank you very much...?? Bill Fritz, StLouis Chapter
>
>