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<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4>It depends on what it is being used
for.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4>If someone is taking lessons, I take it
up.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4>If it is played with other instruments I
take it up.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4>I should have said at the start, that I
take it up to A440 the majority of times, and I inform the owner of that
possibility of broken strings at the start. I tell them a few strings, ok, but
if a lot start breaking, I will go back to the original
pitch.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4>If that happens and it is being used
seriously, I tell them they should look for another piano.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4>I remember one, years ago, that all of one
gauge broke, so I assume it was a bad batch of wire. The owner at that time,
had me change that gauge.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4>So in ending, if it is used, it should be
at pitch. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4>I haven't found that raising 50c makes
any</FONT></STRONG> <STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4> difference to the
breakage rate. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4>30+ years ago, I was raising the pitch in
one, and strings broke, so I tuned it at the pitch it was at, and strings broke,
I tuned it down, and strings broke. It was a nightmare, and thankfully I never
ran into one like it again.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4>John M. Ross</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=4>Windsor, Nova Scotia,
Canada</FONT></STRONG></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=wimblees@aol.com href="mailto:wimblees@aol.com">wimblees@aol.com</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> Sunday, October 12, 2008 2:18
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: pitch of old upright</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><WBR>On most old uprights. I don't take any chances of breaking
strings, much less the soundboard or the plate, and just tune it where it's
at. Unless this piano needs to be on pitch with other instruments, I don't see
the need to pull it up, even if it's up to 50 cents flat. <BR><BR>
<DIV style="CLEAR: both">Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<BR>Piano
Tuner/Technician<BR>Mililani, Oahu, HI<BR>808-349-2943<BR>Author of: <BR>The
Business of Piano Tuning<BR>available from Potter
Press<BR>www.pianotuning.com</DIV><BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From:
reggaepass@aol.com<BR>To: pianotech@ptg.org<BR>Sent: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 1:40
am<BR>Subject: pitch of old upright<BR><BR>
<DIV id=AOLMsgPart_2_e441597e-aa93-4cf8-aaa6-3f693cefd958><WBR>List,<BR><BR>A
client has a Reed and Sons upright, made in Chicago in 1907. It was
last tuned three years ago, but is currently 20 to 45 cents flat.
Features include a full plate, agraffes throughout the tenor and treble,
continuous brass hammer rail flange, and balance rail pins that start at the
top of the keys and protrude UP into the balance rail . Does anyone
know what pitch this instrument is designed for?<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Alan
Eder
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<DIV>John M.Ross<BR>Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.</DIV></BODY></HTML>