self-tuning piano?

[tune4u@earthlink.net]

If I were designing an STP, I would not use conventional pins and blocks. I
would go back and revisit the strengths and weaknesses of the M&H
screw-stringer and go for something mechanical. Which, of course, has the
potential to create new, unwanted noises...

How's this for a disaster: The device has an electronic glitch and
consistently "hears" the pitch two low ... so it keeps cranking and cranking
... increasing the tension on all the strings at once until ...
K'BLAMTINGSPROINGWANGTNKTnktnk .... tnk. And the end of Snivelization as we
know it!

Alan Barnard
Always Thinkin' in Salem, MO


----- Original Message -----
From: "Sarah Fox" <sarah@gendernet.org>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 10:00 AM
Subject: Re: self-tuning piano?


> Hi all,
>
> > > Sounds like this guy is "infultrating" the PTG in order to gain as
> > > much "inside" knowledge as posiible to help him PUT US OUT OF
> > > BUSINESS! I know that isn't likely, at least not in the near future,
> > > but that's the plan, right; to make us OBSOLETE.
>
> But don't forget...
>
> Doesn't a higher-tensioned string produce better sound?  If his
auto-tuning
> mechanism slackens the tuning from its normal rest state (realistically by
a
> half step or so???), then won't the piano's tone suffer?  If so, this
> invention will impact the lower-end market more than the upper-end market
> (where people will still want the better-sounding, conventionally strung
> pianos).  Are these not the same people who go obscenely long intervals
> between tunings anyway?
>
> Tuning pins do slip, and if even a couple of pins slip enough, there are
> sure to be a couple of very sour notes.  You'll get a telephone call at
that
> point.
>
> When repeatedly heated and cooled, the strings will become overly hardened
> and brittle.  Surely there are extra service calls ahead.
>
> Hundreds of heated strings will be like a Dampp Chaser gone nuclear.  What
> will that do the sounding board?  What will that do to the glue joints?
> Will people want a piano that tunes itself but self-destructs in the
> process?
>
> Anyone buying an auto-tuning piano would be looking at the bottom line in
> terms of cost.  He/she will be smart enough to think in the long-term with
> regard to cost up front saving on cost later, and he/she will be less
> interested in the overall quality of the piano.  Service calls will be
few,
> even if the piano *needs* service (e.g. regulation, voicing).  (If I paid
an
> extra $1000 for some feature that would spare me some other cost, I would
be
> very reluctant to swallow that other cost anyway.  I'd feel like a
sucker.)
> Now ten years later, someone is interested in buying a piano and compares
a
> meticulously maintained conventional piano with his/her friend's
> "self-maintaining" piano that has never been professionally serviced.
Which
> piano do you think that pianist will want to buy for him/herself?
>
> Autotuning is a very cool idea, particularly if it can be used to maintain
> the perfect custom tuning, but I'm not satisfied the bugs are worked out,
> and as a consumer/pianist, I don't think I'd touch it with a ten-foot
pole.
>
> Peace,
> Sarah
>
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