How to explain a pitch adjustment..and!

[pianolover 88]

Depending on the amount of PR, ususally more than 12C, I always schedule a 
"follow-up" tuning in 1-3 months, explaining that after restoring all that 
loststring tension, the piano now must "settle" and adjust to that added 
tension, and it some shifting of will occur. So the follow-up is crucial in 
building long term stabilty. And that tuning will leave the piano much more 
stable because tuning pin movement will be much smaller than during the 
initial PR and tuning. Again, never a problem. Yes, it does help to have a 
high confidence level and be able to effectively communicate and impart 
information to your client in a clearand concice manner. I am a salesman as 
well as a technician; that has made the difference between just getting by 
to making a six figures.

Terry Peterson



----Original Message Follows----
From: J Patrick Draine <draine@comcast.net>
Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
Subject: Re: How to explain a pitch adjustment
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 18:45:03 -0500

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

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