Old Ivers and Pond to pitch raise or not to...

[BobDavis88 at aol.com]

Technically, yes, if wire is going to break, it's going to break; so just  
yanking it up (w/lube and a slight drop first, as others have said) is usually  
going to be just fine. However, from a business relations point of view, there 
 needs to be a solid plan in place in case there is breakage. 
 
It's essential to start with a "big picture" chat with the client  to make 
him/her/them partners in this. I tell them that the neglected  maintenance has 
saved money but allowed the risk to accumulate; and that  while in most cases 
there is no problem, in a small percentage of cases there is  breakage. If 
there is, will we want to 
1) restring,
2) stop tuning when the 2nd wire breaks, replace broken, tune back  down,
3) skip the pitch raise, or
4) walk away with just a service call fee.
 
 
They also need an assessment of the rest of the piano before deciding how  
much to risk on the strings.
 
Even if the client opts out of a pitch raise entirely, a  neglected piano 
will have a higher risk factor. In addition to the positives of  a piano at 
proper pitch, I discuss the negative possibility of plate breakage or  case 
separation, but try to put it in its proper perspective (I've never had a  plate 
break while tuning [or immediately after], but I know others have). 
 
All but #4 are going to cost more than the price of a tuning. If one just  
starts whanging away and stuff does break, it looks like reckless abandon to the 
 client, who will most likely freak. A properly prepared client will  not.
 
Bob Davis
 
 
In a message dated 9/25/2008 2:56:26 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com writes:

Like others have said, pull it up to pitch and get on with  it. Chances are 
strings will not break. One time when stripping down a 100+ yo  Everett grand I 
experimented with the strings to see how high I could  pull the strings 
before breaking. Most broke when pulled 200 - 300 cents  sharp!
 
Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
From:  _KeyKat88 at aol.com_ (mailto:KeyKat88 at aol.com)  
To: _pianotech at ptg.org_ (mailto:pianotech at ptg.org)  
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 4:30  PM
Subject: Old Ivers and Pond to pitch  raise or not to...


Greetings,
 
          A church got a  free Ivers and Pond grand piano given to them. 
Serial 52183. What is the mfg  date? It is 100 cents flat. Upon examination of the 
bridges, it looks  as if some tech shellacked or poly clear coated the entire 
bridge  along with the sound board. I mean the clear coat (whatever it 
is)(its  super glossy) is over all the bearing surfaces as well as down over the  
sides of the bridges and the sound board as well. The bridges were actually  
"saved" from further splitting, because there are very slight splits  near the 
bridge pins, but they are all coated.
 
         The pinblock is like  new. I am almost sure it is a replacement.  My 
gut feeling is  not to pitch raise this one, just because of its estimated 
age. The  strings would probably withstand it but I dunno...any suggestions?
 
Thanks in advance,
Julia Gottshall
Reading, PA



 
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