<html><head></head><BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">I use the car in analogies, such as a = car will run without having it serviced by a mechanic but why have = it run at non-optimum performance. Have your piano action = repaired/regulated etc. or, you can put petrol (gas) in an old = car and wash it, so it will go and look nice but it needs more that that = to go on working. ie. Yes, it needs tuning, but the action needs a = service... Also, someone on the list gave one about colours, you = cant tell a person blue is green - so why have a C sound like a B - get = a pitch raise done! I use that now -(thanks to unknown = source). Brian Lawson ---------- > From: John M. = Formsma <jformsma@dixie-net.com> > To: PianoTech <pianotech@ptg.org> > Subject: analogies > Date: 12 = August 1999 01:38 > > Hi List, > > I like to = use analogies so that the customer will better understand what > = needs to be done to his piano.  For instance, when considering the = effects > of a pitch raise on a piano, the customer usually does = not care about the > force exerted by a soundboard and the force = exerted by the strings causing > the piano to be somewhat unstable = after a pitch raise and tuning.  In the > past, I have = explained it scientifically only to see the eyes glaze over as > = they nod in feigned agreement---saying "Whatever you think needs to = be > done."  :-)  For that reason, analogies at the = customer's level of > understanding are helpful. > > = Here are a couple of analogies that I have thought that might help = explain > why a piano goes out of tune faster after a pitch raise, = and why a pitch > raise is necessary before fine tuning at A-440. =  I don't know if the average > 25-cent flat customer = understands why a piano needs to be reasonably well in > tune to = be fine tuned. > > 1.  If you stretch a rubber band, = it's tendency is to return to its > unstretched state, which is = similar to what will happen when we "stretch" > these = strings to a higher tension. > > 2.  A piano needs to = be in good tune to be fine tuned.  It is like washing > and = waxing a car.   You wouldn't try to wax the car before washing = it, but > you wash the car first, then wax it to give it that = brilliant shine. > Similarly, the piano has to be at pitch first = before it can have that > "brilliant" sound. > = > What do you think of these analogies?  I have used the = first, but not the > second.  Also, what have you found = useful in explaining these and similar > concepts to your = customers. > > Ever the curious one, > > John = Formsma > </body></html>