[pianotech] Pitch raise criteria

David Ilvedson ilvey at sbcglobal.net
Sun Aug 2 15:22:04 MDT 2009


It's self explanatory...what ever you think about it is true...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Duaine & Laura Hechler" <dahechler at att.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 8/2/2009 12:47:38 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pitch raise criteria


>David,

>Please explain yourself ......

>Duaine

>David Ilvedson wrote:
>> That figures...
>>
>> David Ilvedson, RPT
>> Pacifica, CA  94044
>>
>> ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
>> From: "Duaine & Laura Hechler" <dahechler at att.net>
>> To: pianotech at ptg.org
>> Received: 8/1/2009 9:31:04 PM
>> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pitch raise criteria
>>
>>
>>   
>>> Rob, et al,
>>>     
>>
>>   
>>> Some of you may never have witnessed a "real" pitch raise - meaning 5 -
>>> 40 cents flat is nothing.
>>>     
>>
>>   
>>> I build in a little extra charge (pitch raise charge, if you must label
>>> it) for all of my first time customers because they have rarely been
>>> tuned in the last, say 5 to 25 years. Most of my first time'rs are
>>> anywhere from 50 to 120 cents flat.
>>>     
>>
>>   
>>> I even had one customer tell me it's never been tuned except when it
>>> left the showroom floor.
>>>     
>>
>>   
>>> Plus, I always ask my customers when was it last tuned - their answer
>>> then tells me what I'm going to charge for the first time. If they don't
>>> know, I tell them a range and determine what the charge is when I get
>>> there by depending how far out of tune it is.
>>>     
>>
>>   
>>> The Cybertuner allows for three setting of pitch raises (1) 0 to 60
>>> cents flat (2) 60 to 100 cents flat and (3) over 100 cents flat. (I
>>> think these are right)
>>>     
>>
>>   
>>> This gives me the opportunity to do a pretty damn good job in one pass.
>>> (Of course, its not going to be too stable, but at least its going to be
>>> in tune). I - always - tell them that because it was so flat that it's
>>> going to need a tuning in a month or so. When they call back to schedule
>>> another tuning I charge my standard rate.
>>>     
>>
>>   
>>> That is my criteria,
>>> Duaine
>>>     
>>
>>   
>>> Rob McCall wrote:
>>>     
>>>> Greetings list,
>>>>
>>>> I just tuned a Samick JS-118 upright yesterday that hadn't been tuned
>>>> in 7 years (It had 1 tuning right after they bought it brand new and
>>>> that was it!).  It was flat by about 73 cents below the break, and
>>>> about 45 cents flat above the break.  Pretty consistent throughout. 
>>>> All in all, it turned out very well after a pitch raise and then a
>>>> fine tune.
>>>>
>>>> My question to all of you...  What do you use as your criteria for
>>>> charging extra for pitch raises?  When is it a "pitch raise" to you?
>>>> This particular piano was pretty clear cut, but do you have a point of
>>>> no return?  20-25 cents? Less or more?
>>>>
>>>> I use a SAT IV along with some aural checks to back the machine up...
>>>>
>>>> I'm still earning my wings in this industry and I'm trying to get an
>>>> idea of what is considered normal (if there is such a thing!). Thanks
>>>> in advance.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Rob McCall
>>>> Murrieta, CA
>>>>
>>>>       
>>
>>
>>   
>>> -- 
>>> Duaine Hechler
>>> Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ
>>> Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
>>> Reed Organ Society Member
>>> Florissant, MO 63034
>>> (314) 838-5587
>>> dahechler at att.net
>>> www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
>>> --
>>> Home & Business user of Linux - 10 years
>>>     
>>
>>   


>-- 
>Duaine Hechler
>Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ
>Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
>Reed Organ Society Member
>Florissant, MO 63034
>(314) 838-5587
>dahechler at att.net
>www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
>--
>Home & Business user of Linux - 10 years



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