Hi Terry - I also like to educate my customers but first I have to determine which ones are educable; surprisingly some of the most obvious candidates are the worst choices; ie. concert pianists, jazz pianists, certain young competition students, etc. An awful lot of piano players today like hideously shrill, harsh piano tone - they call it "sizzle". I've even tuned concert instruments that are deliberately voiced like this; the harmonics screaming for first place. Did you ever see an interview with Elton John in his home playing his personal screeching, out of tune white Yamaha? Anyway, you made a start & perhaps your client will start listening to the sound. This does ocassionally happen & eventually he may ask you what you were referring to, but then again, maybe not. I find that instead of pounding while tuning these beasts, I play the notes quietly for listening & tuning, & then when I think they're settled, give em a good thump. Pounding on this kind of instrument just numbs my senses. Not long ago a client with a trashy old Kimball grand proudly boasted he'd just bought a rebuilt Steinway M. Guess what, it sounded just like the old Kimball, only harder to tune. Bruce
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