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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bob,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Not to open a can of worms on this list again, but
the weather you have recently had has been unusual for your neck of the
woods. Which is to say that it will probably revert to normal soon.
If you measure the average pitch across the piano, you will probably find it is
much closer than -16 cents. Particularly in the practice rooms, and under
the abnormal conditions you've been experiencing, I'd let the pitch float just a
bit. Otherwise, 2-4 weeks down the road when "normal" temp/humidity levels
return, you'll be in the same boat on the other side of the scale.
Everybody will be howling for tunings, no budget will be left, the admin. will
not be happy, & you may end up being the fall guy. Studio &
concert instruments are another story. I'd talk to the dean, piano
faculty, whoever seems to be most level-headed of the powers that be, explain
the situation & make them part of the decision. If they own the
decision, they'll be much more likely to live with it in contentment, or at
least not take it out on you.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Otto Keyes</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>piano tech - U of Idaho</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=hullfam5@yahoo.com href="mailto:hullfam5@yahoo.com">Caroline Hull</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=caut@ptg.org
href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 04, 2003 10:44
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> pitch raise</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<P>At the university where I provide service for fee work, I have just started
my round of tunings for the upcoming second semester. I am finding the
pitch has dropped an unusual amount since the last tuning. For all but
the recital hall pianos, the school asks me to tune once at the beginning of
the first semester and again at the beginning of the second. The
pitch on many of them so far has been close to -16 cents. (I think the
real cold weather we had recently may be the culprit, with heating units
running more and drying things out more.)</P>
<P>Of course this requires at least two full passes and will need a follow up
tuning (which may not be in the budget and therefore may not happen). I
always do two passes anyway even for just a few cents pitch change but this
seems more extreme. How do other service for fee techs handle the
charges on pitch raise situations like this. For my private customers I
charge an extra amount for pitch raises of this nature. </P>
<P>Bob Hull, RPT</P>
<P>Technician for Union University</P>
<P>Jackson, TN </P>
<P><BR>
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