Tuning Steinway Verticals

[Jim Harvey]

Ed, this thread is probably dead now, so I apologize for just now replying.

I have a few war stories on these pianos as well!.

#1. At a certain point in my career, I reached a tuning 'plateau' (there 
have been many) where I was just about as cocky as could be. Then I had a 
call on a Steinway vertical. I didn't know from '1098' at the time. I'm a 
lefty BTW, for whatever that's worth, and at the time was strictly an aural 
tuner, likewise for what that's worth. Funny thing, all my usual tests were 
falling into place as I tuned. Then, for the final test, I played the 
piano. Dog meat! I couldn't figure out what I did wrong, and didn't charge 
the customer for that tuning, a pretty rare event for me.

#2. I later mentioned the incident to George Defebaugh (remember him?) and 
asked why I was unable to get satisfactory results. He replied, "Heh, heh, 
heh, nobody can!" He went on to say that we must always do the best we 
can... and that we must always get paid! He also suggested that these 
pianos have a tendency to "flagpole". I heard him use that expression many 
times in regards to tuning pins, bridge pins, etc.

#3. Karla Pfennig, a former PTG member and tuning examiner, sailed through 
her original tuning test. It happened that her own piano, and 
coincidentally her tuning 'practice' piano was a '1098'. She was ignorant 
about the peculiarities of this model and just toughed it out. Needless to 
say tuning -any- other piano thereafter was like falling off a log.

Regards,
-jh-

At 08:40 AM 9/16/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>Michelle-
>
>Yesterday I ran into my customer who has a new Steinway vertical, and he 
>threatened to call for a tuning appointment.
>
>Now that you have been shepherdess of a flock of S & S verticals for 3 
>years, would you please honor us with your wisdom on this topic?
>
>Thank you.
>
>Ed