No.2 SAT tuning comps.

[Richard Moody]

Placement and the resulting acoustics plays an important part as
Jim's experiment shows.  The idea of each piano being center stage is
good, and also gives the opportunity  to test "validity" or what ever
the word is now.  ie that the subjects in an experiment are
responding the same. (similar to the placebo effect in medicine)
This would entail moving the same piano (while the subjects believe
it to be different) to center stage  and then looking at the "Can't
tell, who knows?"  column.
	I must say I am surprised at the "Can't tell", I would  guess it to
be  higher.  On the other hand if one is asked "which one sounds
better" perhaps there is an unconscious conditioning ( :< )
(subliminal suggestion), "Can't tell" is the "wrong" answer.
Richard Moody

----------
> From: Jim <pianotoo@IMAP2.ASU.EDU>
> To: pianotech@byu.edu
> Subject: No.2 SAT tuning comps.
> Date: Wednesday, April 02, 1997 10:23 AM

{Portions snipped rm}

> To the list:
>
> 				Arizona Tuneoff No.2
>
>However,
> the position of two of the pianos was different.
> Here are the results of the second test: ......
>
> Left piano       Center piano      Right piano      Can't tell
> FAC Standard     High Stretch      Well Temp.       who knows?
>
> 102              56                60               7
>
>
> One thing which is obvious is that this second class was more
decisive in
> that there were only 7 cases where they could not decide which
piano sound-
> ed the best.
>
A more perfect test might be to have any test pianos mounted
> on a rotating stage so that when played they would be in the same
position
> namely front and center.
>
> Jim Coleman, Sr.