tuning timing

[Kevin E. Ramsey]

    Terry; I get more respect for you every day.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2001 6:00 PM
Subject: Re: tuning timing


> I find my speed increases incrementally, but steadily. I have now tuned
> about 800 pianos. I find that I commonly spend about 70 to 90 minutes
tuning
> a piano that is within 4 cents of pitch. But it varies. Last night I tuned
a
> awful S&S B at a church and a 15 cent pitch raise and a tuning took me
2-1/2
> hours. Every string was like pulling a tooth. It was a bad piano. Lots of
> noise. Then this morning I set two new records for me. A newish Kawai
> console, 20 cent pitch raise in 29 minutes and a 51 minute tuning that I
was
> real happy with.
>
> So just when you think that you will never be able to tune faster/better,
> progress occurs, albeit in tiny steps!
>
> Terry Farrell
> Piano Tuning & Service
> Tampa, Florida
> mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Paul" <tunenbww@clear.lakes.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2001 8:45 AM
> Subject: Re: tuning timing
>
>
> > Charles
> > I don't know what muting technique you or the others who responded to
you
> > use, but I discovered that I can tune better-more efficiently and
> > proficiently when I mute the whole piano, tune the center strings, pull
> the
> > mute and tune the rest of the unison(s). I've developed this process
into
> > using two strip mutes for treble unisons, but that gets into another
area.
> > What I learned was that the piano "quieted down." Fewer strings speaking
> > made fewer sounds. This makes it easier for me to hear the string(s) I
am
> > tuning. What I've also learned is that the piano must be close to the
> > desired/required pitch BEFORE any tuning can be done. So, if any pitch
> > raising of any amount needs to be done, DO IT! And while pitch raising,
As
> > Jim Coleman SR. has stated, don't tune; you want the tension right. It's
> > down and dirty. Then tune. The whole process has speeded up my tuning
> > considerably. Several passes ARE faster than one slow, methodical
> run.Three
> > passes is very common for my tunings; and it usually takes me less than
an
> > hour to produce a quality tuning. Keep practicing hammer technique.
Listen
> > carefully how far your pitch changes (if any) after you've removed your
> > tuning lever. Compensate that drift with over or under pull. Several
> steady
> > forte blows should give you a set string and tuning pin. Hang in there.
It
> > will come eventually!
> >
> > Paul Chick
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Charles Neuman <cneuman@phy.duke.edu>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Monday, January 22, 2001 9:42 AM
> > Subject: tuning timing
> >
> >
> > > I'm curious how long it takes you all to complete each part of the
> tuning
> > > process. I'm not as concerned with the overal time as with the
> proportion
> > > of time spent on each section. For example, setting the temperament,
> > > midrange, high treble, and bass.
> > >
> > > The high treble seems to eat up a lot of time. The unisons are harder
> for
> > > me there since the beats are more sensitive to hammer movement. By the
> > > time I get to the last octave, I'm ready to scream, and the notes
start
> to
> > > sound like a metal spoon hitting a frypan. Perhaps a nice grand would
> have
> > > nicer sounding notes up there. It seems like a drag to spend so much
> time
> > > on notes that will rarely be played.
> > >
> > > Charles Neuman
> > > Plainview, NY
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>