It has to be reasonable temperature and humidity stability that keeps a well tuned piano "relatively" in tune. I live in piano heaven...I go back to pianos all of the Pennisula in the Bay over and over and see solid tuning stability. Always at A440 once tuned. At Stanford a few years back, we had a problem with the steam heat. Tunings were unstable...pitch up and down. In the Summer ivories were coming off...more than normal. Once they got the problem fixed...stability was back. These a cross-section of pianos. Steinways, Yamahas...you name we've got it. Nothing special just good solid tuning and a stabile climate. None of these pianos, that I work on, have damppchasers. David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA 94044 ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: tnrwim at aol.com To: pianotech at ptg.org Received: 4/2/2010 9:23:09 PM Subject: Re: [pianotech] Grey market pianos, seasoned pianos, etc. >Manipulating the tension: i.e. tuning! >A nominal pitch raise can easily add 1500 pounds of tension to the structure of a >piano. I'm not guessing how much or in which ways the structure moves around, but >we certainly know that it does. >I agree that tuning the piano will cause instability. But my question is, and which is >what we've been discussing, what causes a piano go out of tune when it's not being >tuned, much less being played? >Wim >-----Original Message----- >From: Ryan Sowers <tunerryan at gmail.com> >To: pianotech at ptg.org >Sent: Fri, Apr 2, 2010 11:25 am >Subject: Re: [pianotech] Grey market pianos, seasoned pianos, etc. >Manipulating the tension: i.e. tuning! >A nominal pitch raise can easily add 1500 pounds of tension to the structure of a >piano. I'm not guessing how much or in which ways the structure moves around, but >we certainly know that it does. >On Fri, Apr 2, 2010 at 12:47 PM, <tnrwim at aol.com> wrote: >I just explain to folks that the piano is under 35,000-40,000 pounds of tension. The >structure, even though it is strong, is flexible and will bend and twist to some degree >when manipulating the tension. This is why the piano's tuning has to be reasonable >close to proper tension before a fine tuning can be executed. >Ryan > >Good explanation. Now, what causes the piano to "bend and twist to some degree"? >You say "when manipulating the tensions". What is it that is manipulating the >tension? > >WIm >-----Original Message----- >From: Ryan Sowers <tunerryan at gmail.com> >To: pianotech at ptg.org >Sent: Fri, Apr 2, 2010 9:41 am >Subject: Re: [pianotech] Grey market pianos, seasoned pianos, etc. >I just explain to folks that the piano is under 35,000-40,000 pounds of tension. The >structure, even though it is strong, is flexible and will bend and twist to some degree >when manipulating the tension. This is why the piano's tuning has to be reasonable >close to proper tension before a fine tuning can be executed. >We rarely go into this when quoting prices over the phone. >We tell people that for most pianos we recommend a 2-hour service appointment >($200). If the piano is way out of tune this will cover mostly tuning. If the tuning >takes less time there are always other maintenance issues that can be addressed. >This satisfies most prospective clients. If the piano has been well maintained then >there is a chance it will be an hour and a half appointment ($155). >On the suggestion of Carl Lieberman, we started quoting the higher price first. This >creates an expectation. Then the client is really happy on the occasions that the >appointment is less then 2 hours. When they anticipate a higher fee, and then you >bill them less, it really secures your reputation as an honest and fair business >person. > >Ryan Sowers, RPT >Puget Sound Chapter >Olympia, WA >www.pianova.net >-- >Ryan Sowers, RPT >Puget Sound Chapter >Olympia, WA >www.pianova.net
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC