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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In the middle 1960 I was working at =
Aeolian Co. of
MO. and was raising pitch on an Estey console and when I got to just =
beyond the
treble break the plate broke. That is my only breaker in 42+
years.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>James Grebe<BR>Piano-Forte Tuning & Repair<BR>Creator of =
Handsome
Hardwood Caster Cups<BR>(314) 608-4137<BR><A
href="http://www.JamesGrebe.com">WWW.JamesGrebe.com</A><BR>1526 =
Raspberry
Lane<BR>Arnold, MO 63010<BR>BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!<BR><A
href="mailto:pianoman@accessus.net">pianoman@accessus.net</A></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=ilvey@sbcglobal.net =
href="mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net">David
Ilvedson</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, November 11, =
2004 11:08
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: A-440 and =
Ethics.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<P align=left>Julia,</P>
<P align=left>Why don't we ask the List if anyone has had a plate =
crack during
a pitch raise. I've been working on pianos for 30 years =
and it has
never happened to me. </P>
<P align=left>David I.</P>
<P align=left><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 =
face=Arial size=2
PTSIZE="10" FAMILY="SANSSERIF"></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P align=left><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 =
face=Arial size=2
PTSIZE="10" FAMILY="SANSSERIF">----- Original message
----------------------------------------><BR>From: <<A
href="mailto:Alpha88x@aol.com">Alpha88x@aol.com</A>><BR>To: =
<<A
=
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>><BR>Received: =
Thu, 11
Nov 2004 11:18:18 EST<BR>Subject: Re: A-440 and =
Ethics.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 =
face=Arial size=2
PTSIZE="10" FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR>Greetings,
=
<BR><BR>  =
;
Usually, when I get a tuning call, it is a piano which hasn't been =
kept up the
tunings 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.<BR><BR>  =
;
I do 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
risk of cracking anyone's harp plate, let alone breaking strings. =
Especially
on the little spinets, whose plates are 5/8" or less
=
thick.<BR><BR>  =
;
When I get to the house, I check the A-440 and it's octaves and get an =
idea 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 =
doesnt
matter to them if its up to A-440 or not.
<BR><BR> =
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 the best I can get it, to sound at the A-4?? and suggest =
subsequent
tunings so we can gradually get it there. They agree to a reminder =
card from
me for follow ups ....say, 4 to 6 mo for the first follow-up. I also =
inform
them that with each tuning the piano becomes more stable and to never =
let a
piano go more than 2 years
max.<BR><BR> On =
hearing
these pianos, they are so, so neglected and out of tune, the piano
<I>always</I> sounds better upon my departure, and thats all alot of =
folks
want in order to start the kid's lessons, without paying "an arm and a =
leg". With customers who are more vigilant of how their piano =
sounds is
another =
matter.<BR><BR>
My tuning teacher used to say "As long as it sounds a lot better when =
you
leave than from when you arrived". <BR><BR>Julia, <BR>Reading, =
PA</FONT>
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