Yesterday, I had the pleasure of tuning an old Estey grand that belongs to some friends of my mother. I had been told that the last time it was tuned was 28 years ago. The last person to tune it was--me! So I was prepared for anything...

Amazingly, only a few of the low notes were more than 10 cents flat, most of it was right at pitch(a gotta love the California climate for pianos). Most of the unisons were still tolerable, too. I suspect the reason it stayed so stable for so many years was the same reason it doesn't produce a whole lot of sound: a flat, thick board.

That was my surprise of the week.

Lets see, the usual tuning fee times 28, would be... Hey, are you charging enough?

Isn't it fun Dave, when you run across a piano that YOU tuned last? And, after that many years, still finding it pretty decent? Plus, you know what to expect even if it's been many years. At least you know the piano was on pitch last time you tuned it!

I had NO idea what to expect, Jerry. Sometimes, though, you get lucky!

Does it get alot of play? Maybe you should start giving lessons on pin setting...lol

Not much play, Les. She probably hasn't touched it in 27 1/2 years!

lol... I did end up picking up a 1909S&S A and upon disassembly, it's got teflon bushings in the hammer flanges...and they stick...go figure..also waiting for my Randy Potter course to show up...hurrrrry.