This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment In this whole matter, the explanation always comes first so that there = is a reason for the piano to behave like it does, not an excuse for it. James Grebe Piano-Forte Tuning & Repair Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups (314) 608-4137 WWW.JamesGrebe.com 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010 BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE! pianoman@accessus.net ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Bec and John=20 To: Pianotech=20 Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 8:18 PM Subject: Re: Help with "bad" tuning...need help Hi Doug, I haven't had much experience with tuning pianos very flat or sharp, = but I can relay what I've read on this list. Assuming the piano is capable of being tuned to 440, some have = suggested they like to bring the piano all the way up to 440 in the = first tuning session - via multiple passes or over-compensating when = setting the first pitch(es) (something like A442 if bringing it up from = A436). I thought I had read from some who don't think repeated visits = are necessary, but I'm sure there is some debate about that. Also, they = tend to charge more for a tuning with a pitch raise, which is = understandable - particularly if they're doing multiple quick passes. However you decide to handle a pitch raise, what James Grebe said I = think is good. Make it specifically (rather than casually) known = up-front what the customer should expect as far as what is required from = you to get the piano in tune (as he says, "another tuning in 2 weeks and = then 3 months"). - John As a new piano tuner, I am learning a lot as I go and tune different piano=92s and typically I am tuning the older piano=92s and some = new/better ones. This past Sat. I tuned a piano for a home that had a console that had never been tuned =91in a long time=92. I warned them that I = might break strings and that it will go out of tune quickly because of the = condition of the strings and the piano itself. Well I was called back by the customer saying =91the piano is still out of tune and you must = not have checked it before you left=92. Before I left I told him, = =91your piano is most likely going to go flat somewhat because it has not been = tuned at all in such a long time (20+ yrs) and that it should tuned every = 6 months. The piano was old and recently had some action work, but the strings = looked old and dirty. I was careful not to break any strings and when I = left it sounded good and the funny thing was the customer said it sounded good after = I finished. It was not that out of tune, A440 sounded like it was between = g-sharp and a, but not an entire half/step off. =20 So, what do I do now? Has anyone been in my shoes before? Go back = and do a =91free=92 fix it up tuning, or tell him, he has to pay for a 2 nd tuning. Is this going to risk my reputation? He had the action done by another local = PTG member and I am afraid that if I don=92t go back and =91fix=92 this, I am = going to get that reputation and the other PTG member might tell others about the = =91part time=92 tooner, which I do not want to be and this is why I joined the PTG, to get = better. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. =20 I thought the tuning was good, inspite of the condition of the piano = and the strings. It sounded alot better, but I knew it was going to need another = tuning soon. =20 Any advice, thoughts? =20 Thanks. Doug Renz Associate PTG member, Rochester, NY ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/9d/fd/cc/2c/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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