Tuning the upper treble

[Kenneth W. Burton]

	Ted,

	Nice to hear from you again. The stories you mailed to me have
been included in TOONER TALES which will be coming back from the printer
on Wednesday.

	Regarding lifting the lid to tune the upper treble. I have to
confess that I am rather merciless. No matter what is stashed on the top
of the piano, I insist that it has to be removed so that I can lift the
lid for the tuning. The lid and its contents usually need dusting and
re-arranging anyway.

	You expressed concern that the use of longer tips to get the
tuning hammer higher than the stretcher and rim, might cause bending or
"flagpoling." No doubt it does. However, there are lots of excellent
tuners who use this approach and make it work well. Daniel Bowman
describes how he uses a long tip in the 4 o'clock position, in my book on
hammer technique, entitled DIFFERENT STROKES, page 110. On page 51, Steve
Fairchild, Sr, describes the same approach, using a long tip at the 5
o'clock position. He entitled this description "Five O'clock Shadow.
	So these are two very credible technicians who are making this
approach work for them.

	Ken Burton "Doctor Piano" Calgary Alberta

On Sun, 15 Sep 1996, Ted Simmons wrote:

> Maybe this is a little soon to post this problem.  I tuned a Baldwin "B"
> yesterday and had no problem with it.  But it reminded me of what happens
> during the upcoming Christmas season.  Invariably, when I arrive to tune a
> grand during the Christmas season, I find that the top of the grand is
> covered with Christmas decorations of such a nature that it would be very
> inconvenient to remove them and raise the lid.  I carry a 3" and 4" tuning
> tip for such occasions.  Usually, when I can raise the lid, I manage to
> tune the upper treble with my very short tuning tip by manuevering around
> the side of the piano.  I've been trained to believe that the short tuning
> tip is the best.  It just seems to me that the long tips would tend to bend
> the tuning pins.  And when I have had to use one, that is the feel I get.
> I don't know a solution to this.  Does anyone?
>
>      Ted Simmons, Merritt Island, FL
>
>
>