Instrument condition

[ATodd@UH.EDU]

Bobby,

RE: (1)  When a decent piano is way down, I'm hesitant to pull it to pitch with
one tuning.  When I raise a piano, it drifts so that I don't seem to get a
good tuning (even with good tuning blows) if I try to P/R and tune in one
call.  I assume this is normal.  I tell the customer it needs a pitch raise,
but the customer frequently does not want to pay for a P/R plus a tuning.
So I tune as is, feeling I've not done right by the piano, nor the customer.
Am I right or wrong to do so?  Advice?

   If the piano is, as you say, in decent condition, meaning strings are not
showing a lot of rust, no obvious previous string replacements, etc. do not
be afraid to go ahead and bring it up on the first raise. That first time,
pull it sharp about 1/4 to 1/3 the amount it is flat: i.e. if it is 100 cents
flat, pull it at least 25 cents sharp in your temperament area. After I set
the temperament, I tune up by octaves to spread out the tension increase more
evenly on the soundboard. I don't go into the bass yet. After the octave
tuning, start at the top and pull in a second string per unison down to the
tenor break. I then tune on down through the bass and come back up pulling
everything else to pitch. Don't try for real accuracy here. It's useless.
Just do a "ballpark tuning" to start getting the piano up. Then, if you have
good luck, the piano will be at app. the right pitch and you can go ahead
and give it a "more or less" normal tuning and it should be fairly stable. It
will, of course, need another tuning in 1-3 months to really stabilize it
(which a lot of people never have done).
   It is a good idea to check all the plate bolts you can get to and make sure
they're tight. In my opinion, if the customer has neglected the piano long
enough for it to get that flat, if they won't pay to put it back at A-440 I
won't do the tuning. The piano was built to be at its best at that level, no
fixed pitch instruments can play with it if it's that low, the student is
learning to hear pitch levels wrong, and I want to protect my reputation by
NOT doing work that I know is wrong. Most of us have probably been through
what you mention, but just insist that the only way you will do the work is
to do it correctly.

RE: (2)  I'm hesitant to P/R more than 50 cents at a time.  Am I being too
wimpy?

   Don't worry about the distance you're bringing it up if everything is in
good condition. Rebuilders, factories, etc. do it all the time.

RE: (3)  On an old piano, way down in pitch, I'm hesitant to even raise, fearful
of string breakage.  Is it considered good practice to just tune where is on
such instruments?  Or should I be brave and raise, if the customer OKs?

   This type of instrument is a different situation. You're more likely to
have very rusty strings, previous string breakage, loose tuning pins, cracked
bridges (esp. check the bass bridge) and various other problems. I advise
that if it possible, it would be better to bring it up to pitch. Then I warn
about the possiblity of strings breaking. If that begins to happen very early
in the tuning, I just replace those strings, back up and tune it to itself.
You might also spot check in the various sections of the piano to get a feel
of whether the strings have enought elasticity left in them to take a big
raise. There will be a very "tight" feel to the string. If that's the case,
forget the raise and tune it basically where it is. Warn that there might
still be some strings that break, to protect yourself. Then if you get
permission, go ahead.
   Sorry this is so long and I hope I've not said anything that really goes
against other philosophies of pitch raising. If I have, I'm sure I'll hear
about it.
   Bear in mind that this is an aural approach. If you tune strictly
electronically, I'm sure there are better ways to do it.
   One thing I forgot to mention in the above paragraph is that if there have
already been several strings replaced, be careful. Show the customer and
explain that there will probably be more break.
   A good tuner doesn't break strings. Strings break. I've had it happen on
a brand new piano sitting on the showroom floor.
   Hope this will be of some help.

Avery Todd, RPT
University of Houston
atodd@uh.edu