A-440

[Farrell]

Are you saying that for a first time client that is "not prepared for the
extra expense", you will "make the piano playable,  i.e. decent regulation,
action free and at A-440" for the cost of a tuning? This sounds like it
could easily be a couple addtional hours (pitch raise, regulation (very
basic), lube action centers - sounds to me like a minimum of $150 - $200 -
easily more for a thorough job).

If regulation & action centers were real bad, I would provide
recommendations with cost before I even tune and ask whether they want it
done now (if I had time), or if the piano was playable, I would suggest that
they consider scheduling the work next time we tune, or any other time at
their convenience.

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Gerler" <kenneth.gerler@prodigy.net>
To: <pneely@thegrid.net>
Cc: "PTG Tech Forum" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2000 9:54 PM
Subject: RE: A-440


> Pat,
>
> I agree with Willem on this one.  I find many a piano that has been tuned
by
> a "tooner" that just "played" with the tuning pins as the customer has
said
> they weren't there very long OR it didn't sound a whole lot better when
they
> finished.
>
> My philosophy if I have been called to service a piano is  --  after
> checking bridges and overall condition of back and sound board to ribs,
> bridges to soundboard is to leave the piano at A-440 if the piano is
> structurally sound.  Anything else promotes bad ear training.
>
> Anyone calling me for the first time without being referred by a previous
> customer, gets a long spiel about time it will take for me to complete the
> service.  There are many instruments that I service that may be in serious
> need of hammer shaping, but if it is a starting student and the parents
are
> not prepared for the extra expense, I will at least make the piano
playable,
> i.e. decent regulation, action free and at A-440!
>
> Ken Gerler
>
>