[pianotech] semantics? - was PR follow up

[phil at emvkeys.ca]

Sometimes the observations of a newbie can be helpful - sometimes not, 
so here goes

Paul seems interested with the intent of Wim's (I think) use of the 
words "fine" and "adequate" in the same conversation with "pitch raise" 
and "fine tuning". While I can't find the original posts, I do recall 
that I took "fine tuning" to be in contrast to "coarse" tuning, (a pitch 
raise obviously being coarse.) In the context in which these words were 
used, I personally took "fine tuning"  to mean that the technician 
leaves the piano quite pleasantly playable, vastly more so than when 
he/she found it, and certainly "adequate" or "fine" considering the 
client's expectations. I also perceive that many excellent technicians, 
perhaps including Paul, may have a narrower definition of "fine tuning" 
unbound by context, which refers to the quality of the finished tuning 
expected for a concert/artist instrument, whether it is such an 
instrument or not.

I'm fairly new to the business. As such, very nearly every piano I tune 
requires a really nasty pitch raise, and quite a few pianos are worse 
than 75 cents. I perform a single pitch-raise pass using TuneLab and 
then a "fine tuning" pass. I always explain to the client that while I 
will leave the piano considerably improved (I use words like "quite 
playable" and "more enjoyable"), I am confident their piano will benefit 
much from regular tunings. I list the benefits. I am satisfied that I 
have "pitch-raised" and "fine-tuned" in one sitting and that my "fine 
tuning" is more than "adequate" to satisfy my client's expectations. To 
date, my return visits generally indicate that my previous tunings were 
in fact "adequate", meaning the piano, while not up to my personal 
tuning standards, was still "playable" and "enjoyable" for my client,  
is still at-pitch and is ready for another "fine tuning".

thank you all for your relentless back-and-forth posts - be assured that 
I and many other greenhorns are gaining a valuable education from it


Phil