FAC problem

[Jim]

Dear Wim:

There is nothing wrong with your machine.  The problem is: On
many pianos since the hammer hits the string near the 8th node,
the 8th partial becomes very weak (F6).  To solve this problem, merely
pluck the string between the strike point and the Agraffe or V-Bar.
You will see a beautiful strong pattern in the lights.

BTW, you should have cited F3 (note 33) instead of F4 (note 45) as
your post mentioned. There are no wound strings on F4 on any piano I
know of.  I do know that there are several systems of notation,
but most of us try to stick the system of the Acoustical Society.

Jim Coleman, Sr.


On Fri, 8 Nov 1996 Wimblees@aol.com wrote:

> David:
>
> I just started using my wife's SAT on a regular basis, and have found it to
> be a great instrument. Not only has it helped with my tuning, but I have to
> agree with others who have told me, there is a lot less stress at the end of
> the day.
>
> I have come accross one propblem that hopefully you can help with. On some
> pianos, when I try to measure the stretch on F4, with the SAT set to F6, the
> lights don't light up. I can just barely see them after about 2 seconds. I
> noticed it first on an Acrosonic, where F4 is a wound string, and thought
> that was the problem. But then I had the same problem today with a Knabe
> grand, where F4 is a plain string. I also found that on other spinets with
> wound F4's I could get a clear reading, and on some good consoles with plain
> wires, I had trouble reading the lights..
>
> I copied this to the list, wondering if other tuners have the same problem,
> or if it is just my machine.
>
> BTW, now that I have started using the SAT everyday, I have come full circle.
> When I started tuning 20 years ago, I trained on one of the first SOT's, but
> weaned myself off it after 2 years, figuring my customers didn't want to see
> a "green horn" using an electronic gadget. Now that I am an experienced
> tuner, I am using the SAT, loving every minute, and showing it off to my
> customers.
>
>
> Willem Blees  RPT
> St. Louis
>
>
>