String rollers

[Tom Servinsky]

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Hey Terry,
Chip tuning is a factory term used to describe the tuning done without =
the action being available. The stringer would "chip" or pluck the =
string and start the initial tunings. Those tunings are extremely rough =
as they really are not meant to be harmonious as they are a means of =
getting tension onto the piano.
Then the strings are seated around the termination and bearing points =
and eventually the action is added.  Then the musical part of tuning =
begins to take shape.
Tom Servinsky,RPT
----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Wimblees@AOL.COM=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2001 1:28 PM
  Subject: Re: String rollers


  In a message dated 10/4/01 11:31:47 AM Central Daylight Time, =
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes:=20



    Just what the heck is chipping? Rough tuning while plucking? Is =
there=20
    something inherently different about bringing a freshly strung piano =
up to=20
    pitch and in rough tune than doing a several-step pitch-raise? What =
is the=20
    difference between chipping a piano up to pitch and raising the =
pitch of an=20
    old upright that is 5 whole steps below standard pitch????=20

    Terry Farrell=20




  Chipping is the process of rough tuning the piano the first time right =
after it has been strung. The advantage of chipping is that it can be =
done without the dampers installed. Yes, you can tune a piano without =
the dampers, but it would be very difficult to do.=20

  Although I stretch the strings before chipping, I also chip the piano =
a half step high. My method of chipping is as follows. I find what note =
is the first in the treble section. I then find an in tune piano, and =
play a note half a step above it. In other words if the first note in =
the treble is a b2, I play a c3 on an in tune piano. I then chip tune a =
major scale on the left string. I will continue to tune the major scale =
all the way up to the top note. I then go back and chip the next string, =
c#3, and start a major scale from that note. Obviously, when I get to =
the third note of the C# scale, it is already in tune from the c scale I =
just did. This is sort of a check for me. I will continue this all the =
way up. After all the left strings have been tuned, I will tune the =
right string of each note, starting at c3. I then tune one string of the =
bass section, to even out the tension on the plate. That is followed by =
tuning the middle string of the treble, and I end up tuning t! he left =
over bass strings of the bichords.=20

  Under normal circumstances, by the time I install the action, (after =
the dampers have been hung), which is usually about a day or two later, =
the piano will have dropped about 150 - 175 cents, to about 50 - 75 =
cents below "pitch." Most of that drop I attribute to down bearing =
pressure on the board. The rest on the strings stretching. So I do a =
"Normal" pitch raise. (off setting the SAT 25 cents high), followed =
immediately by second tuning 10 cents high. Then over the next 2 weeks, =
the piano will get tuned 4 more times, with enough time in between =
tunings to let the strings settle some more.  But each time I will tune =
the piano 5 cents high. Just before the piano goes out the door, I will =
give it one more tuning at pitch, and tune the piano 2 weeks later in =
the customers home. Most of those tunings will require a 10 cent or less =
pitch raise.=20

  With this procedure, I have found that most pianos will stabilize =
after a year, which includes 4 tunings.=20

  Willem=20

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