<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=windows-1252"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV>I would first check to see is anything = is "out of whack". Like perhaps someone filed half the hammer felt off. Or maybe = all the pinning and keys have zero friction. See if there is something to fix = first, then after that, look to modifying key leading, hammer weight, action = geometry, etc.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Bill Spurlock has an instructional = pamphlet: Grand Action Touchweight. Wally Brooks has also published a number of articles = in the PTG Journal regarding action touchweight. Do you have the PTG Journals = on CD? That's where I would start.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry Farrell</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>----- Original Message ----- <DIV>From: "Brian Doepke" <<A href="mailto:doepkeb@comcast.net">doepkeb@comcast.net</A>></DIV> <DIV>To: "'Pianotech'" <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>></DIV> <DIV>Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 8:41 AM</DIV> <DIV>Subject: RE: STIFFER = ACTION</DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV>> Hello, > > I have a customer who claims that = her touchweight is too light and is > asking if there is a way to = change the feel of the piano so the keys > "don't go down as easy".  ( = she did not use the word "touchweight", she > does not know what that = is) > > I have read past articles in the Journal and all I have found is > information regarding repining places in the whippen. > = > Is that ALL I need to look at ...or are there other ways to = change the > feel? > > BD > > -----Original Message----- > From: <A href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</A> [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On > Behalf Of Clyde = Allen > Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 1:04 AM > To: Pianotech > = Subject: Re: free tunings > > Carol, > > Very good = insight and advice! > > Best Regards, > Clyde Allen > = > > --- Carol Beigel <<A href="mailto:crbrpt@bellatlantic.net">crbrpt@bellatlantic.net</A>> wrote: > > > To David especially, I have a few = suggestions to > > make > > concerning getting customers to call = YOU when the > > free > > tunings are completed from the dealer. > > > > First of all, that free in-home = tuning after someone > > has purchased a piano is not really just an > = > appointment > > to tune a piano - it is a fantastic = business > > opportunity for you to get a client!  I doubt most > = > people will notice or appreciate your technical > > skills, > = > but what they WILL remember is whether or not you > > seemed = interested in them and their piano. > > > > Did you dress = nicely?  Did you smile and comment how > > nice the piano looked in their home?  Did you ask > > them > > how they liked = the piano or if there were any > > problems? > > Did you ask = their kid to play a song for you after > > you > > were = finished?  Did you leave any literature about > > how > > to take = care of the piano?  And most important, did > > you > > = not agree to send a post card reminding them when > > their > > = next tuning should be done, say in 6 months!!! > > Those > = > should have been your parting words. > > > > If you = consider that being a successful business man > > piano tuner is 90% = customer care and 10% technical > > stuff, then you might have better = odds of keeping > > the > > customer.  I will say that = the "show" is far more > > important than any unseen work you might have = done. > > If > > any extra work is needed, bring them into = the room > > and > > SHOW them what you are doing!  = It makes for great > > entertainment as most people have never even = seen > > the > > inside of a piano, and are totally fascinated = the > > thing > > even comes apart in the first place! > = > > > I think people are totally  wowed by = electronic > > tuning > > devices. The combination of those little red = lights, > > or > > rotating circles, combined with your wearing a = tie, > > watching a kid play a song, and driving a clean car > > are > > no match for an unknown tuner unless their prices = so > > undercut you, that they probably give poor service > > = and > > will call you back anyway when they get disappointed > > = with the sound and playability of their piano. > > > > When I = was a kid, I was the one who stayed home to > > let > > the = piano tuner in the house.  If I didn't like the > > guy, I would = tell my Dad and he would find someone > > else.  Our tuner never = joined the guild, but he wore > > a > > beret and drove a red = Porche!  He even let me rumage > > through his tool bag = and gladly answered any > > question I > > ever had.  Of = course I was happy with his service! > > My > > Dad was happy = because he thought the piano sounded > > good > > and played crisply.  The guy before him however, > > came > = > out and said something I perceived as > > uncomplementary > = > about the brand of our piano, so we never called him > > = back. > > > > Just remember, building your business is more = "show" > > than competence; keeping your busness is paying > > = attention to detail and being competent! > > > > Carol Beigel, = RPT > > 26 years in the business > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pianotech = list info: > > <A href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</A> <FON= T face=Arial size=2>> > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam = protection around > <A href="http://mail.yahoo.com">http://mail.yahoo.com</A> = > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list = info: <A href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</A> <FON= T face=Arial size=2>> > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list = info: <A href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</A> <FON= T face=Arial size=2>> </BODY></HTML>