<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C56812.C980F920">  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue style='tab-interval:.5in' = id="role_body" bottomMargin=7 leftmargin=7 topmargin=7 rightMargin=7> <div class=Section1> Can’t wait to read = the finished product. = Great idea!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div>  <o:p></o:p>       Brian P. = Doepke<o:p></o:p>       A.A.A. Piano Works, = Inc<o:p></o:p> </div> -----Original = Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Piannaman@aol.com Sent: Friday, June 03, = 2005 12:58 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Customer Handout = -- for review (and flameage) <o:p> </o:p> <div> Hi All,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> A while back, I put out a post about a sheet with piano service = information on it, written for the layman.  Here's what I came up with.  It's = short, easy, and it fits on one page.  The brevity of it really appeals to customers.  People who have just purchased instruments are happy to = have something to chew on, albeit piantech-Lite.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> Any criticisms, witticisms, and suggestions will be appreciated and = considered for the next iteration.  Feel free to use this in whole or in part as a = public resource (insert your name instead of mine, of = course!)<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> Thanks for reading,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> Dave Stahl<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> Piano Service Recommendations<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> All pianos need periodic maintenance.  Depending on the type of piano = you own, the climatic/environmental conditions the piano is exposed to, and the frequency and intensity of play, service intervals will vary = greatly.  The three main areas of in-home piano maintenance are Tuning, = Regulation, and Voicing.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Tuning is the area that will need to be addressed by your = technician most frequently.  Tuning consists of adjusting tension of the piano strings so that they are at the proper pitch.  Maintaining standard concert pitch--A 4, the A above middle C, set to 440 Hz., or cycles per second--is important for the developing = ear. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> New pianos usually need to be tuned more frequently than older = ones.  Strings are still stretching, the various wood components are still = adjusting to the relative humidity in your home.  The piano is not a static object.  Tuning can change dramatically in a short period of time = due to climatic changes.  Most manufacturers recommend that their pianos = get tuned 3-4 times in the first year.  Though our climate in the San = Francisco Bay Area is a bit more hospitable to pianos than most,   Your = piano should be tuned twice a year for the first 2-3 years in order to = maintain and stabilize at concert pitch .<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Tuning older pianos is necessary as well, but they are more likely able = to hold tune for longer periods of time.  Let your ear be your guide, but = if the piano gets played or is in an environment with changing climate, once a = year is the normal recommendation.  Even if the piano never gets played, = letting it go for more than 3 years without attention is probably not a good idea.  Once an old piano drops well below concert pitch, there can = be problems associated with pitch adjustment*. Pianos develop squeaks, clicks, clunks, buzzes, and other annoying = noises that can be a detriment to your playing enjoyment.  Many technicians = will deal with these at your regular tuning call, as they come up, if you have = your piano serviced regularly.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Regulation becomes necessary when various felt and leather parts = in your piano’s action** have become compressed or changed shape from = wear.  There are several points of regulation that should be addressed within your = first few years of ownership to insure that the action performs as it should. A complete regulation is seldom necessary on newer instruments, but = there are several functions that should be addressed within 1-3 years of delivery, particularly on grand pianos.  If you are interested, I will be = happy to demonstrate how your piano action operates.  = <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Voicing deals with the tone of your piano. What is = “good” tone quality?  That is up to the owner-player of the instrument.  = Some like a bright, lively sound, while others prefer a mellow, and darker sound.  Whatever type of tone you prefer, a piano should be able to = play soft passages with delicacy, and loud passages with brilliance and = power—within the limits of the instrument, of = course. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> In order to be properly voiced, a piano needs to be well regulated and = tuned to ensure that the inconsistencies in tone are not because the piano is out = of tune or because the action plays unevenly. Sometimes voicing is a matter = of going through all of the hammers to soften or brighten the tone, and = sometimes it’s just evening out the tone by voicing a few hammers or = sections of hammers that are overly bright.  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> *Pitch Adjustment: this is necessary when a piano gets too far below (or above) pitch.  In short, it is a rough tuning to get the piano close = enough to pitch so that fine-tuning is possible.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> **Action: = all of the moving parts between the key and the = string)<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> This is just a brief outline of maintenance that your piano will need during = its time in your home if you want an instrument that sounds good and plays = as intended by the manufacturer. If you would like more detailed information about = specific functions, feel free to contact me at: 650-224-3560 <a = href="mailto:Velopresto@AOL.com">Velopresto@AOL.com</a><o:p></o:p></spa= n> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> Thanks for reading! Dave Stahl / Dave Stahl Piano Service<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </body> </html>