explaining Pitch raise....

[Farrell]

In my opinion, for me, in my area, "Fifty cents off is fifty dollars more on
the bill if they want A440." sounds reasonable to me (it is just a bit
higher than my charges). I charge 40/75ths of my tuning fee per pitch raise
pass required. I try to base my pitch raise fees on how many passes will be
required, rather than just how flat the piano is, i.e. a newer piano that is
75 cents flat can likely be raised in one pass, whereas an 90 year old piano
with original corroded strings may need two passes even at only 30 to 50
cents flat.

When I talk to a prospective client about pitch raising, I also tell them
that string age and condition will play a role in how many pitch raises will
be needed to get the piano up to standard pitch. I also tell them that there
is always a risk of string breakage - almost never on a new piano, and
infrequent on older strings, if one approaches the pitch raising
conservatively.

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

----- Original Message -----
From: <RustRazor@aol.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 10:07 PM
Subject: Re: explaining Pitch raise....


> <<<
> If there's a question regarding pitch over the phone (and there usually
is),
> I get out my trusty Sanderson Accu-Fork and ask them to play the "a" if
they
> can find it. It's pretty easy to slide the point to zero vibrations
(unisons
> aside) and quote a price on pitch adjustments at $1. per ¢ based on the
scale
> on the Accu-Fork. They can hear the fork and you can hear their "a".
>
> Fifty cents off is fifty dollars more on the bill if they want A440.
>
> If I don't have the fork handy, I'll often quote 70 per cent of my tuning
fee
> as a "minimum", adding that it could be more.  $100. might scare them but
> $70. (with the expectation of more) will get you the >>>
>
> Should we assume that your financial example is in canadian $$$??
>
> Matt W, NY
>