<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1561" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Bookman Old Style" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document face="Bookman Old Style" color=#000000 size=3> <DIV>Technically, yes, if wire is going to break, it's going to break; so just yanking it up (w/lube and a slight drop first, as others have said) is usually going to be just fine. However, from a business relations point of view, there needs to be a solid plan in place in case there <U>is</U> breakage. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It's essential to start with a "big picture" chat with the client to make him/her/them partners in this. I tell them that the neglected maintenance has saved money but allowed the risk to accumulate; and that while in most cases there is no problem, in a small percentage of cases there is breakage. If there is, will we want to </DIV> <DIV>1) restring,</DIV> <DIV>2) stop tuning when the 2nd wire breaks, replace broken, tune back down,</DIV> <DIV>3) skip the pitch raise, or</DIV> <DIV>4) walk away with just a service call fee.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>They also need an assessment of the rest of the piano before deciding how much to risk on the strings.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>Even if the client opts out of a pitch raise entirely, a neglected piano will have a higher risk factor. In addition to the positives of a piano at proper pitch, I discuss the negative possibility of plate breakage or case separation, but try to put it in its proper perspective (I've never had a plate break while tuning [or immediately after], but I know others have). </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>All but #4 are going to cost more than the price of a tuning. If one just starts whanging away and stuff does break, it looks like reckless abandon to the client, who will most likely freak. A properly prepared client will not.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Bob Davis</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 9/25/2008 2:56:26 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV><FONT size=3>Like others have said, pull it up to pitch and get on with it. Chances are strings will not break. One time when stripping down a 100+ yo Everett grand I experimented with the strings to see how high I could pull the strings before breaking. Most broke when pulled 200 - 300 cents sharp!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=mailto:KeyKat88@aol.com href="mailto:KeyKat88@aol.com">KeyKat88@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=mailto:pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, September 23, 2008 4:30 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Old Ivers and Pond to pitch raise or not to...</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV>Greetings,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>          A church got a free Ivers and Pond grand piano given to them. Serial 52183. What is the mfg date? It is 100 cents flat. Upon examination of the bridges, it looks as if some tech shellacked or poly clear coated the <EM>entire bridge </EM>along with the sound board. I mean the clear coat (whatever it is)(its super glossy) is over all the bearing surfaces as well as down over the sides of the bridges and the sound board as well. The bridges were actually "saved" from further splitting, because there are very slight splits near the bridge pins, but they are all coated.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>         The pinblock is like new. I am almost sure it is a replacement.  My gut feeling is not to pitch raise this one, just because of its estimated age. The strings would probably withstand it but I dunno...any suggestions?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks in advance,</DIV> <DIV>Julia Gottshall</DIV> <DIV>Reading, PA</DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR> <DIV><FONT style="FONT: 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF; COLOR: black"> <HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px"> Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? <A title=http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1209382257x1200540686/aol?redir=http://www.walletpop.com/?NCID=emlcntuswall00000001 href="http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1209382257x1200540686/aol?redir=http://www.walletpop.com/?NCID=emlcntuswall00000001" target=_blank>Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators</A>.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? <A title="http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1209382257x1200540686/aol?redir=http://www.walletpop.com/?NCID=emlcntuswall00000001" href="http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1209382257x1200540686/aol?redir=http://www.walletpop.com/?NCID=emlcntuswall00000001" target="_blank">Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>