A-440 and Ethics.

[Farrell]

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".....from however flat it is up to pitch....."

Even if the dang thing is two or three semi-tones flat?

I thought there was a danger of over-stretching a string if you pull it =
more than 25 cents or so sharp. If there is one, where does that window =
of safety end?

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Mike McCoy=20
  To: Pianotech=20
  Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 8:23 PM
  Subject: Re: A-440 and Ethics.


  Hi Terry,

   "All at once" meaning from however flat it is up to pitch followed by =
a fine tune and then maybe a 3rd pass just to touch up.. all the same =
appointment.

  Mike

  Farrell wrote:

    "all at once"

    As in one pass?

    Terry Farrell
      ----- Original Message -----=20
      From: Mike McCoy=20
      To: Pianotech=20
      Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 12:36 PM
      Subject: Re: A-440 and Ethics.


      I have yet to walk away from a piano leaving it flat, and the =
majority of my customer base is 1920-30's uprights and I do it all at =
once with RCT. Rarely do strings break and once I had 3, but that was =
the most. I don't do this because of any philosophy of mine, but because =
it has been what I learned from the Potter course, convention classes =
and other techs I respect. It was explained to me that early on that ear =
training is very important for piano students. If the piano is intended =
for lessons and it can not handle a pitch raise then it's time for a =
different piano, but I have not had to condemn one yet. It is also my =
understanding that if the plate breaks because of a pitch =
raise/correction then there was  most likely a defect in the plate, is =
that not true??

      Is a new student's progress hampered by a flat piano?

      Mike



      Mike McCoy=20
      Langhorne, Pa

      Alpha88x@aol.com wrote:

        Greetings,=20

                    Usually, when I get a tuning call, it is a piano =
which hasn't been kept up the tunings on. I always ask how long since it =
was last tuned. They usually don't know. especially if they have taken =
in an "orphan" piano.

                     I do not like to raise the A4 pitch on any piano =
more than say 1/4 a tone or so, if it's been neglectd tunings. This is =
because I don't want to run the risk of cracking anyone's harp plate, =
let alone breaking strings. Especially on the little spinets, whose =
plates are 5/8" or less thick.

                      When I get to the house, I check the A-440 and =
it's octaves and get an idea of the overall tone of the piano; whrere it =
went flat the most. I always explain the concept of A-440 to the =
customer, and more times than not, it doesnt matter to them if its up to =
A-440 or not.=20

                   They just would like it in tune with itself. I also =
explain that pianos are designed to be tuned to A-440 for best results. =
(unless it is an extremely old, dry upright that's seen better days and =
wont let you even gradually take it up that far, even with subsequent =
tunings/loose pins or bridges coming off) I tune it the best I can get =
it, to sound at the A-4?? and suggest subsequent tunings so we can =
gradually get it there. They agree to a reminder card from me for follow =
ups ....say, 4 to 6 mo for the first follow-up. I also inform them that =
with each tuning the piano becomes more stable and to never let a piano =
go more than 2 years max.

                  On hearing these pianos, they are so, so neglected and =
out of tune, the piano always sounds better upon my departure, and thats =
all alot of folks want in order to start the kid's lessons, without =
paying "an arm and a leg".  With customers who are more vigilant of how =
their piano sounds is another matter.

                  My tuning teacher used to say "As long as it sounds a =
lot better when you leave than from when you arrived".=20

        Julia,=20
        Reading, PA
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