How to explain a pitch adjustment

[Geoff Sykes]

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Dave --
=20
I like the bicycle analogy. May not work on some of those older folks =
but it
gives me fuel to think about.=20
=20
I also like the show-n-tell approach. I'm using PRCT. Is the idea to =
stop
the rotation on, say, the right string, then mute that right string and,
say, the left string and stop the rotation on the middle string and then =
go
back and look at how much rotation is now showing on that original right
string?=20
=20
-- Geoff
=20
=20

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On =
Behalf
Of Piannaman@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 1:30 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: How to explain a pitch adjustment



Geoff,
=20
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.
=20
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.  =

=20
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. =20
=20
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!
=20
Dave Stahl
=20
   In a message dated 12/20/2005 12:45:31 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
thetuner@ivories52.com writes:


Greetings all --
=20
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?
=20
-- Geoff Sykes
-- Assoc. Los Angeles

=20
Dave Stahl

Dave Stahl Piano Service
650-224-3560
http://dstahlpiano.net/ <http://www.dstahlpiano.net/>=20


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