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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Geof,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Being a tech in S. Florida for some 25
yrs, I've dealt with retired folks ( with aging hearing
impairments) with these same issues.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've learned that no matter what I do with
adjusting the tuning to "their liking", the fact remains that there appears to
be a sensitivity factor that impaired ears finds disconcerting. It's like if
one develops a sensitivity to foods tasting too salty and
eventually one thinks all foods taste salty, regardless if salt was
added at all. Imagine being the chef in that situation.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What I have learned is that there is a time and a
place to tactfully explain to the customer that this is more of a case of
their hearing loss issues rather than your lack of tuning ability. My
tactful approach is to say "with all due respect, Mr. Jones, I'm afraid that you
are showing all of the signs of having some mature hearing issues."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>. My father, who plays professionally as a
cocktail jazz pianist, is going through this same issue and I've had plenty
of practice with trying to understand what his ears are telling him vs. the real
world. I usually relate my father's issue to my clients and they
seem relate to his condition. Thus they are more at ease with understanding
and excepting of their situation. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bottom line, you have to find a way to make this
not as much of your inability to tune, but their inability to hear. It's fine
line between being tactful and rude. On the other hand you have to still
offer good customer service by responding to their complaints in a polite
and orderly manner. <EM>I</EM>t's a fine and delicate line one
has to walk.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tom Servinsky</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=thetuner@ivories52.com href="mailto:thetuner@ivories52.com">Geoff
Sykes</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:Pianotech@Ptg. Org">Pianotech@Ptg. Org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, July 24, 2007 1:13
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Defending your tuning</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=203105604-24072007>Greetings all
--</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=203105604-24072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=203105604-24072007>This afternoon I
did a repair tuning on a Yamaha C3. By repair I mean that the owner of the
piano felt that the tuning from the previous tuner, two months ago, left
a lot to be desired. Once I checked it out I had to agree. Anyway, I tune the
piano up and make it all right again and the owner sits down and plays it a
bit when I'm done and complains that the treble, especially the area around
sixth octave, is sharp. OK, I pull out my trusty Reyburn Cybertuner and double
check the tuning, and it's right on. Just to make sure, I put the ETD away and
do aural checks all the way up from about F5. Everything checks out good, but
the owner still insists that it's sharp. Since he's not complaining about
every single treble note, but just a half dozen or so, I strip mute the treble
and work with him on each note that he is unhappy with. Doing a number of
checks, including some of his, I get to a point where I just can't make the
note any flatter and still claim the piano is in tune. I'm bringing notes down
so flat that they are full of fast beats and the octave is just ruined, and
he's still complaining that they sound flat. By this time I've disagreed with
him enough that he's starting to, (finally), question his own perception. I
suggest we leave it where it is and when I come back for the next tuning I
will make a point of reducing the amount of stretch in the treble to as
close to nothing as I can make it. He says OK.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=203105604-24072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=203105604-24072007>Rather than go
through this again, as well as learn from the experience, I'm looking for ways
to work with a customer who is obviously hearing incorrectly but who I,
nevertheless, want to satisfy. Today's question: How do you defend a tuning
that you know, and can prove, is correct when the customer says it is
not?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=203105604-24072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=203105604-24072007>-- Geoff
Sykes</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=203105604-24072007>-- Los
Angeles</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>