Perfect Pitch? How about NO pitch

[Dan M. Hallett, Jr.]

Maxpiano@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Dave -
> 
> In a message dated 97-07-14 02:29:50 EDT, you write:
> 
> <<
>  How about the customer that claims the top half octave or so is producing no
>  pitch, only a thumping noise?  >>
> 
> My first attempt is to state that the tones in that area die away very
> quickly.  If this seems to satisfy the customer, I go back to my work.
> 
> If it appears that I am being pressed to correct something wrong with the
> piano, my next line of defense is to refer to myself.  Approaching the age of
> 64, my hearing is not what it once was.  I mention that as a college student
> I used to be able to tell that a TV was turned on in the next room with the
> volume down, from the squeal made by the sweep circuits of the Cathode Ray
> Tube (in the 20,000 herz range).  I haven't heard that sound in years, and
> when I asked me son if they still made that sound, he looked at me
> quizzically.  What has happened is that the upper limit of my hearing has
> dropped.
> 
> What I try to do is to get the customer to make the bridge to their own
> hearing without my having to make the application.  I state that the upper
> limit of my hearing is still above the top of the piano, and that I can hear
> tones up there.  I am fortunate to have enough of a good reputation that
> people tend to believe me and trust my hearing.
> 
> Bill Maxim, RPT

Dear Bill & List:

My response is to say that the undamped strings vibrate sympathetically
with the sounding strings and thus add to the beauty of their
instrument's tone.
Dan Hallett, Jr.
Hallett's Piano Service
dhalle@toolcity.net