Tuning it where it is

[Mark Dierauf]

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>I never bring an older upright up to pitch, especianly if it has rusty=20
>strings.

>I also don't give a three minute explanation to the customer. I just =
tell=20
>them the piano is too old, and this is the only thing that can be done. =


Man, I love guys like that. It makes me look like such a hero when I
come along and show them that with an extra 20 minutes or so (for=20
which I charge an extra $20) I can almost always get their piano up
to pitch without any extra problems. I explain that the piano will sound
better when tuned to the pitch it was designed for and the pitch-raise
probably won't be necessary in the future if they have it tuned =
regularly.
These people sometimes become my best customers, scheduling 2 or=20
3 tunings a year after that.=20
  True, every so often you will have problems getting an old piano up to
pitch (I warn the customer up front of this). But if there's no evidence =
of=20
past string breakage, why not give it the old college try? Usually, =
where=20
you do have a problem is in the high treble, and when strings break up =
there
you can repair them on the spot by the expedient method of "borrowing"
1 1/2 coils from the other tuning pin of the same unison. It can be a =
pain
(especially on spinets where the action is hard to remove), so I will =
sometimes
charge extra for this, as well. If the strings are very rusty, I'll =
knock them down
in pitch before pulling them up which seems to help in some cases.

>most customers will accept what you tell them, without question.=20

That does seem to be the case all too often. Probably that's how the =
local dealer=20
is able to sell so many Samicks.


>If you try to explain too much,they might wonder what you are trying to =
hide.=20

  I think that depends on the customer. I know that when I go to a =
professional,=20
be it the auto mechanic or the surgeon, I like to get a thorough =
explanation of
the problem and the various solutions, including expected results, =
longevity of the
repair, etc. as well as price for each of the options. The guy who makes =
the best,
most impartial representation of the options and thereby helps ME to =
decide which
course to take is the guy who gets my money every time. I try to provide =
my=20
customers with the knowledge that will help them make the decision =
that's right for=20
them and their pocketbooks, but you're right - some people require a =
different approach.
In some cases, their attitude is "Look, just do the tuning for the =
lowest price possible".=20
In others it's "Do whatever you think is best, and tell me what to make =
out the check for".


>Just my thoughts

>Wim

and mine,

Mark


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