Dead-On Unisons - Was Startlingly Stable Steinway

[Farrell]

Under most common circumstances, where the piano gets tuned yearly or so, I 
agree. However, some pianos are tuned much more frequently.

For example, I tune 16 Yamaha C3s on cruise ships every two weeks. In no way 
shape or form do I wiggle each string on every piano every two weeks - 
besides, I don't get paid enough to do that. There is no expectation that 
these pianos are in concert condition at all times, but they do want them 
pretty darn close - and that's what they get. So in this case, on a typical 
visit to a ship, some pianos will get a handful of unisons tweaked, some 
will get many tweaked, and a couple pianos will get a full tuning (every 
string adjusted).

I get a fee significantly less than my standard tuning fee for maintaining 
the pianos on the cruise ships - and hence they get significantly less than 
a full tuning each appointment - but that is understood and desired by all 
parties.

I imagine there are other situations, some churches, performance venues, 
recording studios, etc. that see frequent tunings where the pianos see 
something along the lines of what I do on the ship. But if they want a 
spot-on tuning each time, and they pay your full tuning fee, then they 
should get every string tuned.

I think the bottom line is, that if your client is paying you your full 
tuning fee, then every string should be tuned - give 'em what they are 
paying for.

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message ----- 


  In a message dated 7/30/2006 7:18:04 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
michelle at cdaustin.com writes:
    Hi all.  I’m interested to know how many “don’t-touch’em unisons” y’all 
come across in your daily work
  None. No such thing. The same forces that cause some notes to be out of 
tune have acted on all the others. The fact that some of them have not yet 
rendered across their bearing points doesn't mean that they aren't about to. 
Each string needs to be reset.

  Bob Davis
----- Original Message -----
> I don't accept freebies, because they aren't. Touching them almost always 
> indicates why.
> Ron N