<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: Stupefying Pitch Volatility</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> Terry, I usually try to let the bass section be the final determining factor. &nbs= p;I wouldn't want to raise the bass to +24 if it is at +10.  I would ma= ke two passes and leave the entire piano at +10.  As a beginner some 25= years ago, another tuner told me to let the tenor section determine the pit= ch of the piano.  After three strings broke in the bass on a cheap spin= et, I soon discounted his advice as faulty.  If the bass is already +10= , I wouldn't raise it any more.  Conversely, here in mid winter, I woul= d likely find the same piano with the bass at  -10 or more.  At th= at time, I would float the entire piano to -10 knowing that in six months it= would be above. Once again, I let the section of the piano that moves the least determine t= he floating pitch. <BLOCKQUOTE> </BLOCKQUOTE>-- Ray T. Bentley, RPT Alton, IL ray@bentley.net www.ray.bentley.net T  ogether E  veryone A  chieves M  ore From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com> <BLOCKQUOTE>Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 07:42:15 -0400 To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Subject: Re: Stupefying Pitch Volatility </BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE>I'm just curious what others do in these situations - not so mu= ch from a business standpoint, but rather from a technical standpoint. You h= ad at least one note at +41 cents, and you ended up with the whole piano at = about +24 cents. I take it the +24 cents level was close to an average devia= tion from standard pitch - so as to make your pitch adjustments minimal? Let= 's assume here your situation was what we all commonly run into: bass was ab= out +10 cents, tenor about +41 cents, treble around +30 cents, and high treb= le somewhere in the +15 cents neighborhood. I would take a piano like that a= nd shoot for a final pitch of +24 cents. You did two passes. Did you calcula= te/estimate pitch offsets during your first pass targeting a final pitch of = +24 cents? And then was your last pass started with everything no more than = 2 cents sharp or flat? Or how did/would you go about it? I find that often these irregular pitch deviations can be quite challenging= to hit your target pitch accurately. Terry Farrell   <BLOCKQUOTE>----- Original Message ----- From: Billbrpt@AOL.COM To: pianotech@ptg.org Sent: Friday, September 28, 2001 5:55 AM Subject: Re: Stupefying Pitch Volatility List, More of the same:  Today I tuned an 1899 Shiller upright, all original= , even the bridal straps but in good shape.  It was a 3/4 plate, open f= aced pinblock design.  It is a *fixture* in this old house on the *orga= nic, whole earth* side of town where there is no air conditioning and only a= few blocks from the lake. Air conditioning or not, this is the time of year where temperatures are mo= derate, there is lots of rain and windows are open all day and left slightly= open at night.  When the temperature goes down at night, the air quick= ly reaches its dewpoint.  Areas of fog (100% humidity) are common. &nbs= p;This is unfortunate because people want to use their pianos and want them = tuned but it will only be a matter of weeks until sharply colder weather com= es on, the heat goes on and 60% indoor humidity plummits to 30%. With an admirable record of service, the old Shiller upright's A4 stood on = September 27th at +41 cents.  I mercifully evened out the pitch in a 2 = pass tuning at +24 cents.  No, I didn't *fully inform* the customers wh= o asked me to leave the bill, they were going for a bicycle ride around the = lake.  I left the bill which charged for "Piano Tuning", my u= sual, going rate which is the highest in the area.  I didn't look to se= e if the plate was cracked although I didn't see any cracks in the plate whe= n I adjusted the damper pedal. Bill Bremmer RPT Madison, Wisconsin </BLOCKQUOTE> </BLOCKQUOTE> </BODY> </HTML>