analogies

[John M. Formsma]

Hi List,

I like to use analogies so that the customer will better understand what
needs to be done to his piano.  For instance, when considering the effects
of a pitch raise on a piano, the customer usually does not care about the
force exerted by a soundboard and the force exerted by the strings causing
the piano to be somewhat unstable after a pitch raise and tuning.  In the
past, I have explained it scientifically only to see the eyes glaze over as
they nod in feigned agreement---saying "Whatever you think needs to be
done."  :-)  For that reason, analogies at the customer's level of
understanding are helpful.

Here are a couple of analogies that I have thought that might help explain
why a piano goes out of tune faster after a pitch raise, and why a pitch
raise is necessary before fine tuning at A-440.  I don't know if the average
25-cent flat customer understands why a piano needs to be reasonably well in
tune to be fine tuned.

1.  If you stretch a rubber band, it's tendency is to return to its
unstretched state, which is similar to what will happen when we "stretch"
these strings to a higher tension.

2.  A piano needs to be in good tune to be fine tuned.  It is like washing
and waxing a car.   You wouldn't try to wax the car before washing it, but
you wash the car first, then wax it to give it that brilliant shine.
Similarly, the piano has to be at pitch first before it can have that
"brilliant" sound.

What do you think of these analogies?  I have used the first, but not the
second.  Also, what have you found useful in explaining these and similar
concepts to your customers.

Ever the curious one,

John Formsma