Pianotech

Last week I tuned a pre-1900 Mathusheck upright, beautiful rosewood cabinet, agrafees all the way up, and some odd action innovations.
The owner said she got it tuned 35 years ago when it got moved in the house. Based on that track record, 3-5 replacement strings installed, I left it 40cents flat.
She asked when it  should be tuned again. I said based on your track record, in 35 years. Or the year 2057. I'd be 106 years old at that time!

The best one was a console that wasn't that old really, but horribly out of tune. I asked her when it was tuned last and she said: "Tuned? Oh no, it was tuned at the factory".

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Michael Hagen RPT
Rohnert Park CA
(707) 664-9857
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Its funny the stories we hear when we ask about the last time the piano was tuned. I am not exactly sure how people wake up some morning and call for a piano tuning after a gap of 3 decades. As long as other things where solid I think you could have done some pitch raises and brought it to A440. Many of those instruments where well built . What action innovations did it have ? perhaps a sostenuto ? did you take any pictures ?

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-16-2022 18:14
From: Michael Hagen
Subject: Longest time between tunings

Last week I tuned a pre-1900 Mathusheck upright, beautiful rosewood cabinet, agrafees all the way up, and some odd action innovations.
The owner said she got it tuned 35 years ago when it got moved in the house. Based on that track record, 3-5 replacement strings installed, I left it 40cents flat.
She asked when it  should be tuned again. I said based on your track record, in 35 years. Or the year 2057. I'd be 106 years old at that time!

The best one was a console that wasn't that old really, but horribly out of tune. I asked her when it was tuned last and she said: "Tuned? Oh no, it was tuned at the factory".

------------------------------
Michael Hagen RPT
Rohnert Park CA
(707) 664-9857
------------------------------

I would have brought it up to pitch if the owner showed any interest in having it done and accepted the cost, but that was not to be. If I was able to buy the piano I would have rebuilt it. Didn't check the sostenuto but wouldn't be surprised if it had one. The spring on the backchecks...it gets stopped before the hammer goes on to hit the string. After hammer rebounds the spring re-engages. Only thing I could figure is that it slowed the butt returning to it's rest position in order for the jack to get back into position. I wouldn't have refinished the piano is was still in great shape! Maybe add a couple coats of clear shellac at most.

------------------------------
Michael Hagen RPT
Rohnert Park CA
(707) 664-9857
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-17-2022 10:17
From: James Kelly
Subject: Longest time between tunings

Its funny the stories we hear when we ask about the last time the piano was tuned. I am not exactly sure how people wake up some morning and call for a piano tuning after a gap of 3 decades. As long as other things where solid I think you could have done some pitch raises and brought it to A440. Many of those instruments where well built . What action innovations did it have ? perhaps a sostenuto ? did you take any pictures ?

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357

Original Message:
Sent: 08-16-2022 18:14
From: Michael Hagen
Subject: Longest time between tunings

Last week I tuned a pre-1900 Mathusheck upright, beautiful rosewood cabinet, agrafees all the way up, and some odd action innovations.
The owner said she got it tuned 35 years ago when it got moved in the house. Based on that track record, 3-5 replacement strings installed, I left it 40cents flat.
She asked when it  should be tuned again. I said based on your track record, in 35 years. Or the year 2057. I'd be 106 years old at that time!

The best one was a console that wasn't that old really, but horribly out of tune. I asked her when it was tuned last and she said: "Tuned? Oh no, it was tuned at the factory".

------------------------------
Michael Hagen RPT
Rohnert Park CA
(707) 664-9857
------------------------------

That looks awesome maybe she will sell it !!!!! I have yet to see a 5 pedal Wing piano located in Charlotte but it was owned by a customers mother from day one. When they cleaned out mom's estate it was sent to Charlotte to the grand daughter. Wing sold pianos directly to customers . Made in NYC it first went to Elk City NC on a train then eventually to Florence SC and finally Charlotte. The 5 pedal setup was used to imitate band instruments

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-17-2022 10:47
From: Michael Hagen
Subject: Longest time between tunings

I would have brought it up to pitch if the owner showed any interest in having it done and accepted the cost, but that was not to be. If I was able to buy the piano I would have rebuilt it. Didn't check the sostenuto but wouldn't be surprised if it had one. The spring on the backchecks...it gets stopped before the hammer goes on to hit the string. After hammer rebounds the spring re-engages. Only thing I could figure is that it slowed the butt returning to it's rest position in order for the jack to get back into position. I wouldn't have refinished the piano is was still in great shape! Maybe add a couple coats of clear shellac at most.

------------------------------
Michael Hagen RPT
Rohnert Park CA
(707) 664-9857

Original Message:
Sent: 08-17-2022 10:17
From: James Kelly
Subject: Longest time between tunings

Its funny the stories we hear when we ask about the last time the piano was tuned. I am not exactly sure how people wake up some morning and call for a piano tuning after a gap of 3 decades. As long as other things where solid I think you could have done some pitch raises and brought it to A440. Many of those instruments where well built . What action innovations did it have ? perhaps a sostenuto ? did you take any pictures ?

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357

Original Message:
Sent: 08-16-2022 18:14
From: Michael Hagen
Subject: Longest time between tunings

Last week I tuned a pre-1900 Mathusheck upright, beautiful rosewood cabinet, agrafees all the way up, and some odd action innovations.
The owner said she got it tuned 35 years ago when it got moved in the house. Based on that track record, 3-5 replacement strings installed, I left it 40cents flat.
She asked when it  should be tuned again. I said based on your track record, in 35 years. Or the year 2057. I'd be 106 years old at that time!

The best one was a console that wasn't that old really, but horribly out of tune. I asked her when it was tuned last and she said: "Tuned? Oh no, it was tuned at the factory".

------------------------------
Michael Hagen RPT
Rohnert Park CA
(707) 664-9857
------------------------------