Upright Piano Tension

[Jim]

The few times I don't tune to A440 is when the condition of the strings
appears to be marginal, or the customer just doesn't want to spend the
extra money to raise pitch. Rarely do I deviate from pitch due to climatic
conditions.

The 1927 date is questionable since the official pitch was changed to 440
in 1917. Sure, some factories may have lagged behind a little.

If the pinblock looks good, compromising to 438 is small potatoes.  My
Psychologist says:
                   "Rule #1. Don't sweat the small stuff.
                    Rule #2. Everything is small stuff."

You are right about pianos being designed to take more tension than is
required. Some factories tune the pianos 1/2 step high on chip tunings
(that's before the piano sees any hammers or action).

Jim C. Sr.



On Sun, 9 Feb 1997, Eliot Lee wrote:

> Dear List,
>
>         I just talked with a local tuner who said that Uprights and all
> pianos built before 1927 were designed to tuned at A-435, afterthat A-440
> was standardized.
>
>         He said that the tension to keep a string at A-440 for an old
> upright was about 10 extra lbs. per string.  So, he compromises and keeps
> them at A-438.
> Particularly the old uprights with pinblocks that are not reinforced with
> iron on top.
>
>         What do the pundits say?
>
>         I always thought that pianos were designed to be over 30% higher
> than concert pitch, so it shouldn't matter.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Eliot
>
> G. Eliot Lee
> Phoenix, AZ
> elee@amug.org
> (602) 957-1711
> "You are never alone or helpless, the force that guides the stars guides
> you too."  - P.R. Sarkar
>
>
>
>
>