sagging center string

[Clyde Hollinger]

Ed, 

I don't know how experienced you are in tuning, but it may be a hammer
technique problem.  I don't tune as many old uprights as I used to, but
I can usually get a piano with even somewhat loose tuning pins to hold a
pitch, so I doubt that it's structural.

You might try this.  On a piano that seems to give you problems, tune
the center string where you want it.  Then, instead of moving on to the
side strings, play the key 20-30 times with the same force you normally
use to tune the side strings.  Check your SAT to see if the pitch
changed.  Normally you will have to take the pitch somewhat sharp to get
it to settle and stay where you want it to be.  Others on the list may
be able to say it better.

And I _do_ like using an electronic tuning device (I use RCT) for its
immediate feedback in cases like this!  :-)

Clyde Hollinger

Ed Carwithen wrote:
> 
> Most of my clients have older (much older) pianos (mostly uprights).  I
> don't have much trouble with the lower or middle section, but that treble
> section often is a real pain.  I use an SAT (God Bless Mr. Sanderson), so I
> am able to get immediate feedback when the pitch slips, and after tuning
> the center string, I go for the treble (right) string, and when it comes in
> tune, the center has slipped, sometimes a lot.  By the time the left string
> is being worked on the center may be even flatter than when I started.
> 
> I start compensating by leaving the center string higher and higher with
> each set, and sometimes this helps, but chasing the pitch of the center
> string down the musical scale is a real pain.
> 
> Eventually, I get the strings to go where I want, they even stay in tune
> pretty well, but the time involved is frustrating.  There are times when it
> takes me more time to tune from F4 to C7 than the entire rest of the piano.
> 
> Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I might improve my technique in
> this area of the piano.
> 
> P.S.  I already do a quick pitch raise if the piano is 6 cents or more away
> from 440; I will even to do the treble section quickly a second or third
> time if it drifts flat.
> 
> Ed Carwithen
> John Day, OR