<HTML><HTML>Greetings,             Usually, = when I get a tuning call, it is a piano which hasn't been kept up the tuning= s on. I always ask how long since it was last tuned. They usually don't know= . especially if they have taken in an "orphan" piano.              I d= o not like to raise the A4 pitch on any piano more than say 1/4 a tone or so= , if it's been neglectd tunings. This is because I don't want to run the ris= k of cracking anyone's harp plate, let alone breaking strings. Especially on= the little spinets, whose plates are 5/8" or less thick.             &nbs= p; When I get to the house, I check the A-440 and it's octaves and get an id= ea of the overall tone of the piano; whrere it went flat the most. I always = explain the concept of A-440 to the customer, and more times than not, it do= esnt matter to them if its up to A-440 or not.            They just would= like it in tune with itself. I also explain that pianos are designed to be = tuned to A-440 for best results. (unless it is an extremely old, dry upright= that's seen better days and wont let you even gradually take it up that far= , even with subsequent tunings/loose pins or bridges coming off) I tune it t= he best I can get it, to sound at the A-4?? and suggest subsequent tunings s= o we can gradually get it there. They agree to a reminder card from me for f= ollow ups ....say, 4 to 6 mo for the first follow-up. I also inform them tha= t with each tuning the piano becomes more stable and to never let a piano go= more than 2 years max.           On hearing these pian= os, they are so, so neglected and out of tune, the piano always sound= s better upon my departure, and thats all alot of folks want in order to sta= rt the kid's lessons, without paying "an arm and a leg".  With customer= s who are more vigilant of how their piano sounds is another matter.           My tuning teacher use= d to say "As long as it sounds a lot better when you leave than from when yo= u arrived". Julia, Reading, PA</HTML>