[pianotech] Striving for the "wow" factor, was Re: Exams discussion - Odd?

[Encore Pianos]

By what criteria do you determine that the piano  "sounds pretty damn good"?
How would you distinquish between a pretty damn good  tuning and a "wow"
factor tuning?

Will Truitt

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Duaine Hechler
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 4:06 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Striving for the "wow" factor, was Re: Exams
discussion - Odd?

OK, this "wow" factor still keeps hitting me the wrong way.

So what your saying that, if I see a piano, any piano, for the first time
and use the calculated tuning that an ETD gives me - which by itself sounds
pretty damn good. I'm supposed to take extra time, which the customer may
not have, and "play" with the tuning settings until I reach the "wow" factor
?

If that is the case, you must have pretty understanding customers !

As it is, I take my time to give them a good tuning, make sure it is stable,
etc and still takes me a little under 2 hours.

Duaine

On 05/14/2012 02:20 PM, Paul Williams wrote:
> Wim, Duaine and all.
>
> If it makes any sense to you all;  I tune every piano as if I would 
> have to play it myself and record it. Of course, a Steinway D makes  a 
> "perfect" tuning even close to possible; a Winter spinet: not even close.
BUT: I will do the best job I can on every instrument!  That's what we are
supposed to do! Aren't we???
>
> Just coasting through a crappy piano with a so so tuning looks  bad on us,
the customer, and the piano!! 
>  Unfortunately, some of those old crappy pianos don't sound much 
> better to US after you started then when finished, but, by Golly, we 
> HAVE to do our best with every instrument!!  For those who don't even try
to do this: then, please stay out of the organization. It just looks bad on
the rest of us!!.
>
> I don't care if you choose ETD's or aurally, really, for the day to 
> day tunings or even concert tunings.  Each of us have what works for 
> them.  Use them, BUT:  continue to learn more "tricks" to do a better job,
and let's leave each other alone to do that!!  My delete button is getting
worn out!
>
> Best tunings to you all!
>
> Paul
>
>

--
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 - 11 years