<< I need some help. I tuned a Kimball laPetite a month ago using my SAT and the customer called me back complaining about the low bass being out of tune. >> Ted, You'll get lots of sympathy on this one, because it's probably happened to everyone, and it can be frustrating. This is the piano's fault, not yours, and realizing this can allow you to confidently explain the problem, rather than weakly defending your tuning. I've found that the most important first step is to AGREE WITH THE CLIENT that those notes DO sound bad (no doubt about that on this piano). THEN (if you're satisfied with the tuning), you can talk about the reasons with her. I explain that the ideal piano is much longer than this, and in making shorter pianos, manufacturers are forced by the laws of physics to make greater and greater compromises in the design, which results in more and more impurity in what the strings put out, especially in the bass. I'd certainly be willing to try some different octave sizes to see if there's one that is a better COMPROMISE (call it that) for her. Otherwise, there is no modification that will improve this significantly (save gluing on an extra two feet of piano) with the possible exception of voicing, and even here there are limits. Since there are few low partials, voice away too many high partials and you are left with exactly Thud. With the right explanation, you don't insult her by saying that her piano sucks. Just suggest that because of her sensitive ear, she may require a better instrument (this being the truth). Then it becomes her choice, rather than your fault. Best of luck, Bob Davis
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