How to explain a pitch adjustment

[Piannaman@aol.com]

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Geoff,
 
I tell the customer that every time you pull a string beyond a  few cents, 
the neighboring string is affected.  It's easy to give a graphic  display of 
this if you have an ETD.
 
I will sometimes use a bicycle wheel analogy, pointing out that each time  
you tighten or loosen one spoke, other spokes AND the rim are  affected.  
 
Most of the time I just say, "M'am, the piano's really out of  tune.  IN 
order for me to get it to pitch, I'll have to tune it twice (or  three times, as 
the case may be).  The first tuning is a coarse  tuning, meant to get the piano 
close enough to pitch so that it can be  fine-tuned."  I then point out the 
wear-and-tear on ears and body  that adjusting the pitch can cause.  
 
If the customer has their piano tuned per my recommendation, I  charge 
nothing for a pitch adjustment.  When customers neglect  their pianos, they should 
pay, not the tuner!
 
Dave Stahl
 
   In a message dated 12/20/2005 12:45:31 P.M. Pacific  Standard Time, 
thetuner@ivories52.com writes:

Greetings all  --
 
Many pianos need a  pitch adjustment prior to tuning. Usually because it 
hasn't been touched in  five years. Therefore, like many of you I'm sure, I 
frequently find myself  having to explain to customers what a pitch adjustment is, 
and why their piano  needs one prior to tuning. I have found that car analogies 
often help when  explaining things but I have not been able to come up with 
one that would help  with a pitch adjustment. Even after explaining, as simply 
as I know how, the  relationship of the incredible string tension across the 
plate and why it  needs to be equalized before a fine tuning will hold, I often 
feel like  I'm coming off trying to sell them something bogus. How do you 
people explain  pitch adjustments to your customers whose piano needs it so that 
they not  only understand what it is but why it's important that their piano 
gets one  prior to tuning?
 
-- Geoff  Sykes
-- Assoc. Los  Angeles




 
Dave  Stahl

Dave Stahl Piano Service
650-224-3560
_http://dstahlpiano.net/_ (http://www.dstahlpiano.net/) 

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