How to explain a pitch adjustment

[pianolover 88]

I like to keep it SIMPLE and "customer friendly". I have never had a problem 
explaining (if/when necessary) why a separate procedure called a pitch raise 
is needed. Simply put, I tell them that the overall string tension has to be 
"restored" to a point where only small tuning pin movements are needed and 
will not effect previously tuned notes. They easily grasp the concept and in 
many cases thank me for the explanation.

Terry Peterson



----Original Message Follows----
From: "Geoff Sykes" <thetuner@ivories52.com>
Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
To: "'Pianotech'" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Subject: RE: How to explain a pitch adjustment
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 13:44:28 -0800

Dave --

I like the bicycle analogy. May not work on some of those older folks but it
gives me fuel to think about.

I also like the show-n-tell approach. I'm using PRCT. Is the idea to stop
the rotation on, say, the right string, then mute that right string and,
say, the left string and stop the rotation on the middle string and then go
back and look at how much rotation is now showing on that original right
string?

-- Geoff



-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Piannaman@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 1:30 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: How to explain a pitch adjustment



Geoff,

I tell the customer that every time you pull a string beyond a few cents,
the neighboring string is affected.  It's easy to give a graphic display of
this if you have an ETD.

I will sometimes use a bicycle wheel analogy, pointing out that each time
you tighten or loosen one spoke, other spokes AND the rim are affected.

Most of the time I just say, "M'am, the piano's really out of tune.  IN
order for me to get it to pitch, I'll have to tune it twice (or three times,
as the case may be).  The first tuning is a coarse tuning, meant to get the
piano close enough to pitch so that it can be fine-tuned."  I then point out
the wear-and-tear on ears and body that adjusting the pitch can cause.

If the customer has their piano tuned per my recommendation, I charge
nothing for a pitch adjustment.  When customers neglect their pianos, they
should pay, not the tuner!

Dave Stahl

    In a message dated 12/20/2005 12:45:31 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
thetuner@ivories52.com writes:


Greetings all --

Many pianos need a pitch adjustment prior to tuning. Usually because it
hasn't been touched in five years. Therefore, like many of you I'm sure, I
frequently find myself having to explain to customers what a pitch
adjustment is, and why their piano needs one prior to tuning. I have found
that car analogies often help when explaining things but I have not been
able to come up with one that would help with a pitch adjustment. Even after
explaining, as simply as I know how, the relationship of the incredible
string tension across the plate and why it needs to be equalized before a
fine tuning will hold, I often feel like I'm coming off trying to sell them
something bogus. How do you people explain pitch adjustments to your
customers whose piano needs it so that they not only understand what it is
but why it's important that their piano gets one prior to tuning?

-- Geoff Sykes
-- Assoc. Los Angeles


Dave Stahl

Dave Stahl Piano Service
650-224-3560
http://dstahlpiano.net/ <http://www.dstahlpiano.net/>