<!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: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=US-ASCII"> <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@01C605AF.25F13BE0"> <title>Message</title> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="date"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PostalCode"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple = style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Hi = Geoff<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> It kind of depends on the piano. = Most Yamahas are a little more tolerant. Generally if they are more than 8-12 cents = out I’ll use the pitch raise feature of the Cyber Tuner. But I normally = don’t charge people extra unless it is more than 15 out. Actually, if they are = within 15 cents I normally don’t even put the piano on pitch (unless it = is in a critical situation that demands on pitch). If a piano is only out that = much it is probably because of humidity issues, so I’ll tune it flat or = sharp as the case may be. Otherwise when I come back in 6 months it will be 15 = cents out the other way. I have a lot of anecdotal evidence to support that. = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Most of the time if they are out up to 50 cents I only make one pass through the piano. I = always adjust the overpull down on the pitch raise = screen by -4 cents. It seems to work for me. I do check after the first pass, = especially at the tenor break, but I am not looking for a perfectly still spinner. = I’ll tolerate about 1.5 cents out, especially if they are somewhat = consistent. Usually, even on more major pitch raises, there will be only 10-15 notes I need = to slightly adjust. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> If they are out 100-200 cents I = usually need to tune twice, then a third time on 10-15 notes. I always tell the = customer afterwards that the piano doesn’t have as good a tuning as if it = had been tuned regularly. It won’t be stable until after the second or = third tunings. The second tuning should come within 6 months but you might = want to call me out sooner if it gets sounding bad. = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Hope this = helps.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p></fon= t> Dean May       &nbs= p;     cell 812.239.3359<o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.co= m   = 812.235.5272<o:p></o:p> <st1:place><st1:City>Terre Haute</st1:City> <st1:State>IN</st1:State>  = <st1:PostalCode>47802</st1:PostalCode= ></st1:place><o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original = Message----- From: Geoff Sykes [mailto:thetuner@ivories52.com] Sent: = <st1:date Month="12" Day="20" Year="2005">Tuesday, December 20, = 2005</st1:date> <st1:time Hour="17" Minute="40">5:40 PM</st1:time> To: = deanmay@pianorebuilders.com; 'Pianotech' Subject: RE: How to = explain a pitch adjustment <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean = --<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> At how many = cents off pitch do you consider a pitch adjustment = necessary?<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> -- Geoff = Sykes<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> -- Assoc. = <st1:City><st1:place>Los = Angeles</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote = style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> -----Original Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Dean May Sent: = <st1:date Month="12" Day="20" Year="2005">Tuesday, December 20, = 2005</st1:date> <st1:time Hour="13" Minute="54">1:54 PM</st1:time> To: 'Pianotech' Subject: RE: How to = explain a pitch adjustment<o:p></o:p> I find it very = helpful to “pre-sell” the pitch raise. When a new customer calls we = quote our normal rate ($85) and ask how long it has been since the last tuning. We = then explain that if the piano is real bad it could be up to $150 because it = will require more work to get it into shape. (My rule of thumb for charges is = take the worst note out of tune and add $1/cent to my basic rate, up to the = maximum of $150.) There may also be additional charges for minor repair and/or adjustments. Most people do not balk at all at the cost. They are = expecting to pay more on a piano that hasn’t been tuned for many years. = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>= Then when I get = to the job I don’t ever have to sell a pitch raise. It is pre-sold. They = may ask if it is going to take the pitch raise, but they’ve already = committed to paying it or I wouldn’t have the appointment. = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>= Being up front = like this eliminates the perception that you are just trying to = “upsell” a job. They know before you come out what the possibilities are. Before I = started doing this several years ago I faced the same struggle you are. Since we started doing the pre-sell, I am actually doing more pitch raises at a = much higher price.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>= <div> Dean<o:p></o:p>= Dean May       &nbs= p;     cell 812.239.3359<o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272<o:p></o:p> <st1:place><st1:City>Terre Haute</st1:City> <st1:State>IN</st1:State>  = <st1:PostalCode>47802</st1:PostalCode= ></st1:place><o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p>= -----Original = Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Geoff Sykes Sent: = <st1:date Month="12" Day="20" Year="2005">Tuesday, December 20, = 2005</st1:date> <st1:time Hour="15" Minute="45">3:45 PM</st1:time> To: Pianotech@Ptg. = Org Subject: How to explain a = pitch adjustment<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Greetings all = --<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Many pianos need a pitch = adjustment prior to tuning. Usually because it hasn't been touched in five years. Therefore, like many of you I'm sure, I frequently find myself having to explain to customers what a pitch adjustment is, and why their piano = needs one prior to tuning. I have found that car analogies often help when = explaining things but I have not been able to come up with one that would help with = a pitch adjustment. Even after explaining, as simply as I know how, the relationship of the incredible string tension across the plate and = why it needs to be equalized before a fine tuning will hold, I often feel = like I'm coming off trying to sell them something bogus. How do you people = explain pitch adjustments to your customers whose piano needs it so that = they not only understand what it is but why it's important that their piano gets = one prior to tuning?<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> -- Geoff = Sykes<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> -- Assoc. = <st1:City><st1:place>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> </div> </blockquote> </div> </body> </html>