speed tuning

[Leslie W Bartlett]

I failed to get a piano tuned well, and the customer called the tuner she
had used years before.  I called him, and asked what I did wrong.  He
said, "not much", and indicated it was a difficult piano. But he said,
"Your problem is going too slowly.  Better get close, then strip it again
and go through it again quickly.  He indicated he can to through a piano
twice in the time most do it once, and, in the end, get a better tuning.
There is some inner trust required to go at it this way, but the times I
have forced myself to accept "close' on the first run through, I have
found the second time through going much quicker, and I get done in less
time than when I attempt to spend multiple minutes on each note, and the
tuning is more solid.  I also made a "bonker" out of two hammers.  I tune
my temperament, then "bonk" each note. Then I bonk each note after I've
done my octaves.  Then I use the bonker to do unisons.  Actually, that
allows me to stand when tuning a studio piano, giving less arm strain,
and with the sharper blows of the bonker, I think my tunings stabilize
better.

Now I haven't been at this for decades, so I may be crazy!

Leslie Bartlett M. Mus
16315 Laluna
Houston, TX 77083
On Wed, 12 Feb 1997 13:34:45 -0700 (MST) elee@amug.org (Eliot Lee)
writes:
>Dear List,
>
>        Do you know of any techniques to develop speed tuning?
>
>        I have read Steve Fairchild  gives a course in tuning and
>since he
>was the world record holder, maybe some of you know his technique.
>
>        Does he use a temperament strip or just mutes.
>
>        Does he use an SAT or fork?
>
>        I am plagued with slow tuning, going over and over a note
>probably
>making it worse, banging it, so that it will hold.
>
>        I have yet to master that art.  Does Steve have email?
>
>        What is the best angle of holding the hammer, are there torque
>advantages of being right or left handed?
>
>        Some people press the hammer so they can feel notch tuning.
>I've
>been there done that but still would like to improve my technique and
>speed.
>
>        What is the best way to Pitch Raise?
>
>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
>
>
>
>
>