[CAUT] pitchlock

Ron Koval drwoodwind@hotmail.com
Wed, 30 Mar 2005 14:15:53 +0000


Jeff asks:

How much difference in tension can the separate strings of a unison
tolerate before you get some funky stuff going on in the partials?  How
do you know without taking off the couplers how far apart those strings
actually are?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I've used these with varying success.  I especially like the newer 
applications that Alan wrote about.  To explain the effect, it seems to 
reduce the amplitude of the beating between mismatched strings- not make 
them in tune.  As you move one of the strings it is possible to hear when 
the two strings match up.  For me, it is a lot like working with false 
beating - searching for the "best" spot to leave the string.  I've been 
happy with the full install I did in one of our piano labs and in the choir 
room that gets the most use. (both grands)  I ended up removing them from a 
Steinway upright in a church.  It went from being hard to tune, to being a 
nightmare to tune.... though the couplers kept it sounding in tune 
longer....  For a full install, it takes listening and tuning in a slightly 
different manner than I am used to.

But placement up at the agraffe hasn't presented any of the difficulties I 
found with the placement near the bridge.

Ron Koval
Concordia U
Curie Performing Arts Center



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