Charge more to tune a Steinway?

[Conrad Hoffsommer]

Farrell wrote:
> S&S verticals, yes. Grands, no. Nope, not just you. I don't charge more. 
> I don't tune very many of them, so it's not that big a deal. However 
> when I'm in the midst of tuning one (and I've got one little ba$tard in 
> mind....) I seriously wonder why I don't charge more.
>  
> I learned to tune on a brand-new S&S 1098. Talk about a rough 
> introduction......  :-0
>  
> Terry Farrell

I feel your pain, Terry, I did a lot of my first tunings on brand new 
243s...

I've got here a $&$ ratio of 10 grands to 1 45", and a tuning ratio of 
probably 100:1 since the 45" is in a studio and several of the grands 
are in performance venues. I think that's about right... ;-]

The studio piano requires more time because the construction features 
accelerate reaching the point of diminishing returns and increasing the 
frustration factor. (accelerated action?)

The grands, particularly the bigger ones, can take more time because 
they DEMAND it. They can, and will, show up any weaknesses in your 
tuning and/or technique. They can humble you. They don't take prisoners. 
However, the more effort you put into them and, (as Les said) the more 
you listen to what they're saying to you, the better the results that 
will be produced.

Put slightly differently, if you put the best tuning you can on that 
upright and follow it up, immediately, with another best tuning, you'll 
probably wind up with a slightly different tuning, but likely not a 
better one. Do the same to a grand (and not just $&$) and the following 
tuning will not only be slightly different, but definitely better.

But to answer your original question, no, I don't charge more for 
particular brands, but I often GET more - enjoyment and gratification.

>               Does anyone else out there feel that you need more time to
>     tune Steinways? Is it just me or what? I am thinking of charging
>     alittle more to tune them. I have been tuning for 5 years.
>      
>     Julia Gottshall,
>     Reading, PA  

-- 
Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT - Keyboard Technician
Luther College, 700 College Dr., Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076