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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Don,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>On a more constructive note, I do tune =
square
pianos. I charge by the hour - period. Don't quote a fixed price. And I
incorporate a frustration factor into my rate. I make it adequate so =
that I can
smile all the way through the experience.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Make it clear to the piano owner that =
you will do
what you can - if the piano has original parts, they are way past their =
life
span, so the owner needs to understand that just breathing =
on the
piano may cause things to break.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I also sit while tuning a square. I =
have a back
injury, and I couldn't bend over one for more than a minute without =
killing
myself. So I built the simple pivoting extension tuning lever in the =
photo
below. Works great. It also has two oval tips set at 90 degrees to one =
another
which helps immeasurably.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pitch? 99+% of the pianos I tune go to =
A440. I have
tuned squares to A440 and I have left some flat because of string =
breakage or
the threat thereof. I talk to the owner and see how risky they want to =
get
chasing A440. There is no reason in the world a square grand can't be =
restored
to top condition, BUT, I have yet to ever run across a =
square that
wasn't worn down to a rusty, crusty, twisted, crunchy, warped little =
nub. For
anyone that wants to play a piano like that, having the pitch at
A440 isn't likely to be a limiting performance =
factor.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT =
size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV></DIV><FONT
face=Arial size=2>> Terry - I've heard =
that
suggestion about "running" in past years. This <BR>> is =
for a
small local museum. I've put them off for several years, and there =
<BR>> is no one else in the area. I don't know "what I want to =
know"
because a <BR>> square is all new to me.<BR>> <BR>> Don =
P<BR>>
<BR>> <BR>>> Run away, run away!
;-)<BR>>><BR>>> What do you want to =
know?<BR>>><BR>>>
Terry Farrell<BR>>><BR>>>>I will be working on a square =
grand in
a few days. Tuning and some <BR>>>>minor =
repair to
dampers and a few loose pins. Do any of you have a few
<BR>>>>pertinent instructions for this first time
experience?<BR>>>><BR>>>> Don =
P.<BR></FONT></BODY></HTML>