Morons and best strings

[Travis Gordy]

Rob:  Yes it is nearly the right string, or some might say treble side
string, that has to be retuned when a unison goes out when checking octaves
or fifths etc as I work my way up.  Same with grands or uprights.  Tuned
both types today and and thought about your post as I retuned.  Makes no
difference whether the tuning was with a temperament strip which results in
tuning the right string then the left to the center as the strip is pulled,
or if tuning with an SAT which may result in the center and right strings
being tuned to the left string, or whether all three strings are tuned to
the SAT.  

Years ago I was much impressed by Leroy Edwards and George Defebaugh
telling of their experiments that seemed to prove that the bridge tilts as
tension is changed on the strings just as a violin bridge does except ever
so slightly.  I do not recall bridge  tilting having ever been discussed on
this list, but I am convinced it does,and since it is glued to the
soundboard it must flex or bend or deform the board on both sides of the
bridge.  There also has to be a center of rotation of the bridge and
experience would suggest that each pin of the trichord has a different
relationship to the center of rotation. You have likely had the same
experience as I have of having made a small pitch change an find that as
you pull the tempering strip the right side string requires significant
adjustment whereas the left side string may require little or no change. 
Is it possible that slight bridge movement as we continue tuning up the
scale is causing the occasional right string change.  I thought about
bringing up the bridge tilt question on the lengthly thread about strings
riding up the bridge pin. In that case the left string is the commen
offender.  I have thought about testing for bridge tilt by mounting a
mirror on a rod fixed to the bridge. A laser setup would be best. Some
manufacturer ought to do it to learn what happens with humidity changes as
well as with tuning pitch changes.

Travis Gordy

> From: Rob Stuart-Vail <rob_sv@email.msn.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Morons and best strings
> Date: Saturday, December 06, 1997 7:50 AM
> 
> André (and list) -
> 
> Interesting - we might have a thread on this?
> 
> On my final check of  temperament unisons, it will usually be a 
right-hand
> string that has changed.  Occasionally it's the left,  but rarely the
middle
> strings.
> 
> Anyone else notice this?
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Antares <antares@EURONET.NL>
> To: PIANOTECH LIST <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date: Saturday, December 06, 1997 7:45 AM
> Subject: Morons and best strings
> 
> 
> >Barrie Heaton writes:
> >
> >>Hi André
> >>
> >>How's life,
> >
> >Thank you Barrie..
> >My life 's at the moment hectic but very entertaining.
> >
> >>What is so special about muting the entire instrument?
> >>Well, the middle string of each unison is the best string for
> >>tuning....
> >>
> >>On what grounds do come to this conclusion. please elaborate.
> >
> >Wellll....slurrrp...
> >First of all, I have always thought that the right string of the steel
> string unisons was the best one. The left ones often seemed to give more
> listening trouble.
> >Maybe this sounds totally illogical...I don't know, it doesn't matter.
> >Then...I received my factory based lessons on tuning, and that changed
> everything for me.
> >My Instructor in Japan, who is a very famous tuner / technician, told me
> that the middle string is the best one.
> >It is obvious that I was (and still am) very much in awe of all he told
me.
> My statement that the middle string is the best one comes from him.
> >And...having tested this (afterwards) for myself many times, I am
convinced
> that he was right.
> >But.....
> >I also remember reading an article in the "Scientific American" (from
many
> years ago) about the energy exchanges of strings between the unisons in
> connection with the bridges.
> >If I am right (but so what), the flow of energies distorted the
stability
> of the left and right strings of the unisons.
> >However...as I am but a Dutch moron and totally unfit for any serious
> scientific debate, it would seem better to me to leave this issue of "the
> best string" to more qualified human beings (or morons)
> >
> >Now..it could very well be, that their are certain very very intelligent
> and honed brains who will point out to me, that if I do not > precisely <
> know what I am talking about, wouldn't it be better to keep the big beak
> meticulously shut.
> >
> >Ohhhhh!!! they are soooo right!
> >
> >But...... I smile at the thought, and wish them a jolly good cup of
coffee
> (or sanka, for the more sensitive ones) and keep up the mirror on which
is
> written :
> >
> >Tolerance...tolerance is the remedy for every uneven flow of
energies....
> >Be it the left, the middle or the right string, we > could < be friends
> after all!
> >
> >>Part of a stable tuning is not just setting the pin, it is setting the
> >>string. on eyes strings not as big a problem you way, however on return
> >>string you have to  equalise the tension on both returns, so running
> >>down
> >>the unison is more than likely to put the odd middle string out as you
> >>go along so I would not say it is a piece of cake.
> >
> >I agree, but if the tuning is not very much "out", you will not have
this
> problem and have your cake after all.
> >
> >>having said all of that at the end of the day it does not matter how we
> >>tune as
> >>long as you get there in the end and the customer is happy.
> >
> >Well Barrie, I once sent you some chocolates, maybe it is time for a
piece
> of cake?
> >
> >
> >Friendly greetings from :
> >
> >CONCERT PIANO SERVICE
> >André Oorebeek
> >Amsterdam, the Netherlands
> >
> >‰  where MUSIC is no harm can be  ‰
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
>