<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=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@01C4E14F.323756D0"> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple = style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Since you are a new tuner (and even = if you weren’t), you should go back and find out what is at issue. Schedule it at your convenience but = don’t wait too long. You need to = find out if the problem is yours, not setting solid unisons, or one of the piano = continuing to drift off pitch from a large pitch raise. If you have an ETD you will be able to measure the pitch drift if = you set the pitch at A440. A = piano that is Ľ step flat is significantly out of tune and = may not stabilize even after a pitch raise and fine tuning. Check to be sure that the piano is = not sitting over a heater vent or is otherwise in an unstable room in the house. If the problem is = yours fix it. If the pitch is still = drifting tell them that you should have explained that after a significant pitch raise = the piano may not achieve stability right away and sometimes requires = another tuning sooner than it would otherwise. If that is the case, suggest that the piano sit for another couple of weeks = and schedule another tuning for which they will have to pay full fee. If the problem is yours--unstable = unisons--tell them that more frequent tunings will help insure greater stability = between tunings and try and schedule the next appointment. Above all, be relaxed and = confident.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> David Love <st1:PersonName>davidlovepianos@comcast.net</f= ont></st1:PersonName> = <o:p></o:p> </div> -----Original = Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Doug Renz Piano Tuning Sent: Monday, December = 13, 2004 5:52 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Help with = "bad" tuning...need help <o:p> </o:p> As a new piano tuner, I am = learning a lot as I go and tune different<o:p></o:p> piano’s and typically = I am tuning the older piano’s and some = new/better<o:p></o:p> ones.  This past Sat. = I tuned a piano for a home that had a console<o:p></o:p> that had never been tuned = ‘in a long time’. I warned them that I = might<o:p></o:p> break strings and that it = will go out of tune quickly because of the = condition<o:p></o:p> of the strings and the = piano itself. Well I was called back by<o:p></o:p> the customer saying = ‘the piano is still out of tune and you must not<o:p></o:p> have checked it before you left’.  Before I left I told him, ‘your = piano<o:p></o:p> is most likely going to go = flat somewhat because it has not been tuned<o:p></o:p> at all in such a long time = (20+ yrs) and that it should tuned every 6 months. = The<o:p></o:p> piano was old and recently = had some action work, but the strings looked<o:p></o:p> old and dirty.  I was = careful not to break any strings and when I left it = sounded<o:p></o:p> good and the funny thing = was the customer said it sounded good after I = finished.<o:p></o:p> It was not that out of = tune, A440 sounded like it was between g-sharp and a, = but<o:p></o:p> not an entire half/step = off.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></fo= nt> So, what do I do now? Has = anyone been in my shoes before? Go back and<o:p></o:p> do a ‘free’ fix = it up tuning, or tell him, he has to pay for a 2nd tuning. Is = this<o:p></o:p> going to risk my = reputation? He had the action done by another local PTG member<o:p></o:p> and I am afraid that if I don’t go back and ‘fix’ this, I am going to get = that<o:p></o:p> reputation and the other = PTG member might tell others about the ‘part time’ = tooner,<o:p></o:p> which I do not want to be = and this is why I joined the PTG, to get better. Any<o:p></o:p> thoughts on this would be = greatly appreciated.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></fo= nt> I thought the tuning was = good, inspite of the condition of the piano and the = strings.<o:p></o:p> It sounded alot better, but = I knew it was going to need another tuning soon.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></fo= nt> Any advice, = thoughts?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></fo= nt> Thanks.<o:p></o:p></f= ont> Doug = Renz<o:p></o:p> Associate PTG member, = <st1:place st="on">Rochester, <st1:State st="on">NY</st1:State>= </st1:place><o:p></o:p></p= > </div> </body> </html>