pitch raise

[Jorgensen, Michael L]

Hi Caroline,
     I include pitch raise as part of my basic fee since about 95% pianos require it in my part of the world.  I don't care if the pitch raise is a little or a lot as long as it isn't more than about a semitone and as long as the pianos strings are in good condition.  
     IMHO a pitch raised piano can be just as stable as a very close one and not need a second tuning.    I think of pitch raising like "tuning pin setting" except in this case I'm "setting the piano". to counter any tendency for board, beams, plate etc. to settle.   I go well above pitch judiciously which makes the second pass wish to go slightly sharp which is good and will counteract any tendency to flatten.   I don't believe in leaving a piano at any other pitch than 440 for universities.
-Mike Jorgensen
Central Michigan University School of Music  

> ----------
> From: 	Caroline Hull
> Reply To: 	College and University Technicians
> Sent: 	Wednesday, February 5, 2003 1:44 AM
> To: 	caut@ptg.org
> Subject: 	pitch raise 
> 
> At the university where I provide service for fee work, I have just started my round of tunings for the upcoming second semester.  I am finding the pitch has dropped an unusual amount since the last tuning.  For all but the recital hall pianos, the school asks me to tune once at the beginning of the first semester and again at the beginning of the second.   The pitch on many of them so far has been close to -16 cents.  (I think the real cold weather we had recently may be the culprit, with heating units running more and drying things out more.)
> 
> Of course this requires at least two full passes and will need a follow up tuning (which may not be in the budget and therefore may not happen).  I always do two passes anyway even for just a few cents pitch change but this seems more extreme.   How do other service for fee techs handle the charges on pitch raise situations like this.  For my private customers I charge an extra amount for pitch raises of this nature. 
> 
> Bob Hull, RPT
> 
> Technician for Union University
> 
> Jackson, TN 
> 
> 
> 
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