How to explain a pitch adjustment

[J Patrick Draine]

Geoff,
I'm sure you've received many replies already, but I'll give you my  
two cents. First, up here in New England, we have a very wide range  
of pitch variation as a result of seasonal change.
So my base rate assumes I'll be doing a significant amount of pitch  
adjustment in an average appointment.
So over the phone I quote my base rate for a 1.5 hr. appointment  
($120) and my hourly rate beyond that ($60/hr.), explaining that if  
"it's been awhile" the appointment may well take an additional hour  
hour or whole hour. Or more, depending on the particular piano's  
condition. I don't try to make do pitch raises super super fast. A  
half tone pr can be pretty stable in 2+ hr with multiple passes.  
Though, of course, a follow up tuning is advisable (but not the  
practice of 95% of my customers).
Some customers want a detailed explanation of pitch raising, but most  
don't -- they just want it done right for a fair price. The PTG Home  
Office has a one page handout that explains pitch raising.
If they want a low initial price quote, they can phone somebody else.
Patrick Draine

On Dec 20, 2005, at 3:44 PM, Geoff Sykes wrote:

> 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