<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 11"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C602FB.AF3AA1E0"> <link rel=Edit-Time-Data href="cid:editdata.mso"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Thanks to all who have posted = things like this thread.  As one just starting out, = it’s a great resource to get an idea of the right/wrong ways of running this = type of business.  I’ve = already decided that, when I start charging people, I’m not going to = charge a “tuning fee”.  The fee will = be for 1.5 hours of “service”.  = If the tuning takes one hour, I’ll look to other improvements I can = make for the balance.  I got this = idea from another thread where someone did this sort of thing:  make the whole instrument a = little better each time—the customer loves it, it gets easier on you. = <o:p></o:p> As we say here in the South:  Y’all’s great!!  Keep it = up!!<o:p></o:p> John (waiting for my membership = packet) Delmore<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Love Sent: Saturday, December = 17, 2005 10:37 AM To: '<st1:PersonName = w:st="on">Pianotech</st1:PersonName>' Subject: RE: Tuning = time<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> It’s an argument for full = service appointments in which you schedule additional time to do things other = than tuning.  And, of course, you charge more for those = appointments.  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> <div> David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net <o:p></o:p> </div> -----Original = Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of BRETT GLASS Sent: Friday, December = 16, 2005 11:25 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Tuning = time<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas to All = ,<o:p></o:p> And to Ken I'm not missing the SNOW = !<o:p></o:p> Just wondering if anyone else has had this = happen to them . I seem to have slowed down . More so on the quality = instruments . Like today I was tuning a customers Steinway L (1972)  for the = second time . I don't remember it taking as long last year .  This time = the 5th & 6th octives had so many false beats . I stoped to seat the strings = & bridge pins . Then I got annoyed by a clicking noise on G-6 that turned = out to be a loose hammer flange bushing .<o:p></o:p> Then as I got to the lower bass another noise = the keybed was knocking . Maybe the Dampp-Chaser system I installed last = year made these things show up. All I know is I ended up running about an hour = behind .<o:p></o:p> Then this afternoon I ran into a KG-1 I tune = every 3 months . New DC system last fall ???? wild strings 5th 6th & 7th . I = ended up seating all the bridge pins & strings it was easier to dress all = the strings & then tune . Then a buzzing sound from the case. Had to = tighten every screw tell I finally happened to kick a small fan = with a metal cage setting under the piano . Fixed it ! This piano is used for = Jazz gigs , Now everyone will wounder why the pianist is sweating . I tossed = the fan .Another hour behind ! I seem to be spending more time on the = grands I tune then before . The spinets well I do my best . Even a nice U-3 or 1 = will slow me down with one thing or another .<o:p></o:p> Am I just hearing better ? Has my = experience gotten to the point where I find more things that I would have missed = before (most likely). I know that most of the pianist don't hear these things . = I'm also afraid that the ones that do feel that they got a poor tuning . = Before I got into tuning as a player I didn't hear 90 percent of what I do now . = And I'm sure that most people grow accustomed to what they are play day in & = out. They must because when I'm done with every piano I play it . Most of the spinets I hate . They think it sounds great . Even the little spinet I = played for years as a kid hurts to play now . Back then it was great ! = <o:p></o:p> At what point do you decide to = charge for these little extras . Or should you cover your tunings by fixing the little = things . For now thats where I'm at . It sure can make you run behind though = .<o:p></o:p> Thanks for the input on reselling services . = I'm sure now that I'm not charging enough .<o:p></o:p> Brett Glass<o:p></o:p> A Sharp Piano Service <st1:place = w:st="on">Maui</st1:place><o:p></o:p> PS: I won't tell you how I fixed the loose = bushing other than to say I had none with me . And most likely that flange = will need to be replaced next time it needs to be rebushed . It was loose to = the wood in the flange . I know the quick fix police are going to pull me = over for speeding to the next job . Guess <o:p></o:p> -- <o:p></o:p> ______________________________________________= _____ Play 100s of games for FREE! <a href="http://games.mail.com/" = target="_blank">http://games.mail.com/</a><o:p></o:p>= </div> </body> </html>