Different Pitch Raising Sequence

[Farrell]

I regularly bring any piano that is up to 200 cents flat up to standard
pitch in one sitting. At least half my tunings involve a pitch raise, and I
probably do at least one or two a week greater than 50 cents. They all go up
to standard pitch.

In the last two years I have only had one piano that would not go up to
pitch - an old rustbucket (moldy too!) S&S M. Had just a few pop a couple
strings. Most all - no problem. I tell the customer that I recommend
bringing the piano up to standard pitch - for better sound, and
singing/other instruments/student reasons. I do tell them that there is
always a chance that strings will break, and that they have the option to
tune it at a lower pitch. Only one lady requested that I tune it at a lower
pitch - she did not have the funds to bring her little wurly spinet up from
100 cents flat (it took a couple passes anyway just to even it out before I
could tune it!). I also did one old upright that was 350 cents flat and was
about 130 years old - THAT one I DID recommend to the owner that we only
bring it up part way this time - I think we went up to about 150 cents flat.

What policies do others have regarding REAL FLAT pianos???

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: <Wimblees@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2000 11:41 AM
Subject: Re: Different Pitch Raising Sequence


> In a message dated 12/12/00 10:04:16 PM Central Standard Time,
> mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes:
>
> << Seems to me this is a good way to approach the piano with an elevated
>  potential for popping strings during a pitch raise. Any thoughts? Are
there
>  any procedures that others have found to be valuable?
>
>  Terry Farrell >>
>
>
> First of all, any piano that is more than 50 years old, whether it is a
grand
> or an upright, that is more than 50 cents low, will not get a pitch raise
of
> more than 25 cents. This mostly eliminates string breakage. If a customer
> insists the piano be brought up to pitch, I will explain it will be at
their
> discretion, and that I will not be held responsible for anything that
might
> happen to the piano. (I have never had a customer challenge me.)
>
> I pitch raise starting in the middle of the piano, and go up, and then
down.
> I have found the piano to be more stable in the long run, than if I did it
> according the directions. Although Dr. Sanderson has stated it doesn't
make
> any difference, I am more comfortable with this method, and think it does
> make a difference.
>
> Willem
>