FAC database

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi John:

You have made some good observations about FAC numbers. Writing them on
a business card which remains in the piano is a good idea. The numbers 
do however change with the seasons. If I am in a hurry, I may use the
previous numbers taken. It doesn't seem to make that much difference.
Most of the time, I remeasure (still trying to do better each time).

As with all of the current ETDs, none of them deal directly with the
special problems of wildly scaled pianos. I really like the way that
the new SAT III is equipped to handle these problems in a systematic
way. I will soon publish a paper on the way I handle Acrosonic spinets.
The Wurlitzer spinet requires a slightly different approach. Both of
these pianos can be easily tweaked with the new Double Octave stretch
control during the tuning of the pianos. The TuneLab program also
has the capability of handling these special problems, but in a different
way.

It may be worthwhile to publish some fixes for some of these very popular
models, but in general for medium sized pianos and larger, the 3 or 4
major ETDs all do pretty well in providing good tuning curves.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Thu, 11 Nov 1999, John Ross wrote:

> Hi List,
> I have questions regarding saving of FAC #'s.
> I have found FAC #'s are different on pianos of the same make and model,
> so there is nothing gained by saving the numbers.
> I found the FAC #'s seem to change from season to season on the same
> piano.
> I would like to know, the why on this one. I think it would have to do
> with the humidity. I can take the FAC #'s 2 or 3 times in the one day
> and they are the same so I don't think it is my tecnique.  I am not
> talking about differences of .1 or .2 cents either.
> These pianos include concert grands, and are in a University.
> I meant to tabulate the FAC's and humidity, but I keep on forgetting.
> I think the FAC tunings Al supplies are averages of a few.
> Regards,
> John M. Ross
> Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
> 
> Del Gittinger wrote:
> 
> > Bill, I used to save all the FAC numbers and whatever adjustments I
> > did for each make/model of piano.  I had my SAT II memory maxed out to
> > 206 pianos, etc.  Then I realized that I only needed to store tunings
> > for the special "concert" tunings to high quality pianos with high
> > quality performers.  The rest of the pianos, especially the small
> > instruments, get their FAC numbers recorded in the piano the first
> > time I tune it.  Then each time I return to that piano the FAC numbers
> > are already there - no need to re-measure. BTW there are ways to be
> > sure the FAC numbers (and the 88 note tuning it generates) are the
> > best for that piano.  Ron Berry's class describes various ways to be
> > sure the octave stretch (the A4 number) will give smooth transitions
> > across the octaves.  Also, there probably isn't any way to get a
> > "concert" tuning out of Betsy Ross and Lester spinets and attempting
> > to do so will eat up a  lot of valuable time.  If the piano owner can
> > hear the difference they should get a bigger, better instrument. Del
> > Gittinger, RPT
> > Del's Music Studio, Marion, OH
> > Piano Tuning & Service
> > Electronic Instrument repairs including organs
> > delgit@acc-net.com
> >
> >      ----- Original Message -----
> >      From: BSimon999@AOL.COM
> >      To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >      Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 1999 12:46 PM
> >      Subject: FAC database
> >       I have the list of FAC numbers for good quality grands, and
> >      some excellent
> >      uprights, that Inventronics puts out.
> >
> >      Most of the pianos I see are DEFINITELY NOT good quality
> >      pianos.
> >
> >      I was wondering about the feasibility of a list of FAC
> >      numbers for the Betsy
> >      Ross spinets, the  Lesters, etc.  Does a secondary list of
> >      these exist?
> >
> >      If not, I might be willing to start compiling a list of FAC
> >      numbers
> >      discovered by list members, to be available free of charge
> >      to whoever wants
> >      it. Necessary, though, would be name of piano,
> >      height/length, FAC, etc.
> >
> >      Any interest? Any problems in doing such a thing, or has it
> >      been done already?
> >
> >      Bill Simon
> >      Phoenix
> >
>