SHARP organs

[Conrad Hoffsommer]

At 11:19 6/9/99 -0400, you wrote:

>I have been asked to tune pianos to organs in the past week during a
>summer-like heat wave here. The organs measured more than 20 cents sharp at
>A4. I feel pretty confident of my pitch raising abilities (at least short
>term), but really, how much is too much? I know next to nothing about
>organs, but is there something that can be done to keep them more in tune?
>Refrigerate the air intake room or something? I know some of you would
>refuse to tune that sharp, but what's a tech to do?
>Ken Jankura
>Newburg, PA


You should be like the organ tuners and insist that the room and organ are
at the normal operating (performance) temperature for at least 24 hours
before you tune it.   That organ is going to float in pitch with the
temperature as soon as they turn on the A/C, and the people are going to
wonder why you didn't tune the piano to the organ.

Of course, if they say they only turn on the church A/C on Sunday morning,
then have them turn it on for about the same amount of time before you get
there.  

Either way, it's like trying to hit a moving target.

Worst is when someone sneaks in and turns it on _while_ you're tuning.
Arrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't ask.






Conrad Hoffsommer - Music Technician 	mailto:hoffsoco@luther.edu
Luther College				(319)-387-1204
Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045

"Far too noisy, my dear Mozart.  Far too many notes."
 - Emperor Ferdinand of Austria 1.5.1786