more on this temperament thing

Farrell mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
Mon, 22 Oct 2001 22:40:38 -0400


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Thanks for the input David. What I do usually is do my FAC, and then =
sample 5 A's or whatever note, and often 5 of another note to test =
octaves. I see how they vary and then choose appropriate DOB to get what =
I want. The A measurement has (by far) the dominant effect on the tuning =
calculation. I often measure all three A4 strings, and the middle A#4 =
and the middle G#4 string and see what they look like. It is interesting =
to look at these because often one of the notes will differ quite a bit =
from the others. Remember, there is nothing magical about A4 when =
choosing a note to measure for the FAC tuning calculation. A4 is simply =
(ideally) a representative note from that area of the piano. Anyway, =
after I adjust the DOB to get what I want, I start tuning from A0.

One of my goals is to adjust my style and start tuning from A4 so that I =
can incorporate adjustments on the fly. I say I have read all of Jim =
Coleman's material - I have. But I have to admit that I have not =
incorporated all of it into my daily tuning routine. I'm working on it!

Terry Farrell =20
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: David Love=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Monday, October 22, 2001 1:30 PM
  Subject: Re: more on this temperament thing


  Terry:

  One other comment on the SATIII and the DOB.  As Jim Coleman has =
pointed out you can use the DOB on the fly, so to speak, adjusting it as =
you go depending on the piano.  If you do this, however, you must start =
tuning from A4 outward.  Changes in the DOB will have no effect on A4 =
but will have an increasing effect as you go out.  If you start tuning =
at A0 and tune chromatically upward and discover that the octaves around =
A3 need to be narrowed then the DOB will change the settings most of =
those notes that you've already tuned.   Going up from A4, of course, =
would not be a problem.

  And just to emphasize that stretch settings are very piano dependent, =
I tuned 6' Kawai grand this morning.  The FAC numbers were quite low, on =
the order of 6.7, 5.7, 5.8.  This setting put C8 around 31.  I found =
that I had to increase the DOB to about +.3 to get the amount of stretch =
I wanted.  So it can definitely go both ways. =20
    ----- Original Message -----=20
    From: Farrell=20
    To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
    Sent: October 21, 2001 2:53 PM
    Subject: Re: more on this temperament thing


    Thanks for your comments David. I follow pretty much exactly what =
you described in your post below when I tune. I usually test some sample =
octaves all across the keyboard to get a feel for what I will be wanting =
to do with the DOB. I have all of Jim Coleman's info and have studied it =
extensively. When I said that I wonder what I should be doing with my =
octaves, I was referring to the upper treble (as in your original post) =
and was indicating that I know very little about upper treble stretch =
theory - why some tuners stretch more than others, why some stretch a =
big piano on a stage more than a small piano in a home. When techs are =
talking about these various amounts of stretch, what are they doing with =
the amount of beating in octaves and double and triple octaves way up in =
the high treble? Are we talking only about putting a half or a quarter =
bpm in some type of octave, or lots of beats or what? Any thoughts would =
be welcome.

    Terry Farrell
     =20
      ----- Original Message -----=20
      From: David Love=20
      To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
      Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2001 2:50 PM
      Subject: Re: more on this temperament thing


      As a general rule I am finding that small pianos require an entry =
of -.5 on the DOB and as the pianos get bigger that number decreases.  =
But you can measure the stretch before you start by tuning a double =
octave (after entering the FAC numbers and saving), and testing aurally =
to see if it is where you want it.  The SAT uses A4 as the fixed point =
so keep that in mind when you choose your test double octave.  I usually =
try and test the double octave to not include any wound strings.  If the =
double octave is too wide, input a negative number on the DOB and change =
notes (step up, step down) to implement the change.  Test again.  When =
you get it where you want it go ahead and start tuning.  When tuning =
with the SAT I start in the tenor and go up (when tuning aurally, I =
start from the temperament and go down).  When I am done with the treble =
I usually direct tune the bass as the machine sometimes has problems =
across the break and I don't always agree with its choices for stretch =
in the bass.  Jim Coleman has made several contributions to the list =
regarding use of the DOB.  I recommend you search the archives and check =
them out. =20

      David Love=20
        ----- Original Message -----=20
        From: Farrell=20
        To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
        Sent: October 21, 2001 11:11 AM
        Subject: Re: more on this temperament thing


        I would sure like to hear more on this topic. As a tuner still =
on a steep learning curve, I wonder just what I should be doing with my =
octaves, but I find that the SAT III is either right where I wish it to =
be, or sometimes I do find that it seems to have calculated a tuning =
with too much stretch, and I have to enter negative numbers in the DOB =
to slow the beating down - occasionally quite a bit.

        Terry Farrell =20
          ----- Original Message -----=20
          From: David Love=20
          To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
          Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2001 11:25 AM
          Subject: Re: more on this temperament thing


          My experience suggests that C8 at 43+ is not a conservative =
stretch but a fairly healthy one.  To my ear, I usually reduce the =
stretch (on the SATIII via the DOB).   On concert grands I seem to =
prefer it a bit under 40.   On smaller grands and uprights, in the mid =
30's.  Of course the general scaling does make a difference.  But =
generally I find the standard setting on a SATIII over stretches.  I am =
curious what other people find.

          David Love=20
            ----- Original Message -----=20
            From: David M. Porritt=20
            To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
            Sent: October 21, 2001 7:40 AM
            Subject: Re: more on this temperament thing


            Bill:

            You've talked quite a bit of your "tempered octaves" but as =
one who has seen everything from 2:1 octaves to outrageously stretched =
octaves I don't know what kind of stretch you're talking about.  Could =
you give us some numbers so we can know what you mean by tempered =
octaves? =20

            For example, when I tune a Steinway D my C6 is stretched to =
5.06, C7 is 16.11, and C8 is 43.84.  This is what I consider a =
conservative tuning.  What kind of numbers do you get?  On any piano, =
just measure your C6, 7, & 8 and tell us what model piano it is, and how =
it stretches with your tempered octaves.  That would be very =
informative.

            Thanks,

            dave
            *********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

            On 10/21/01 at 7:19 AM Billbrpt@AOL.COM wrote:
              In a message dated 10/21/01 6:07:55 AM Central Daylight =
Time, davidlovepianos@earthlink.net (David Love) writes:=20



                That being said, if the pianist needs an altered tuning =
to create excitement, he should practice more.


              It's always been my belief, as a piano technician that the =
better prepared the piano, the better equipped the artist is.  Remember =
that I have not advocated *HT* as such for Jazz.  To you, this implies =
*altered* tuning which means something quite noticeably different and =
thus creates an *interference* with what you do rather than provide an =
enhancement.=20

              I don't know if you can or have tried my EBVT but as I =
have designed it (with Tempered Octaves), it is meant to enhance your =
playing, not shock or disturb your musical sensibilities.  It is meant =
to provide definition, texture and clarity, not weird, jarring and =
shocking dissonances.  If the EBVT is still to *altered* for you, I =
believe you might benefit from the Marpurg (also with my Tempered =
Octaves system).  I will give your piano an uncanny clean, crisp and =
clear sound but absolutely will not create any distinction between keys. =


              Bill Bremmer RPT=20
              Madison, Wisconsin
_____________________________
David M. Porritt
dporritt@mail.smu.edu
Meadows School of the Arts
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75275
_____________________________


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