I've never used a machine to tune with* I use the London College of Furniture system starting at C40 (using a C523.4 fork). I progressed to this having been originally taught a system based on 3rds and 6ths by a lecturer who apprenticed at the Danneman factory. I mute the temperament, tune F34 - F#46, pull out the strip and tune the unisons. I often replace the strip and tweak over the temperament again, before tuning right up to C88 then right down to A1. On a big pitch change - say 150-200 cents - I'll start at A1 and yank the thing up without any wedges at all, pulling up to maybe 20 cents sharp over successive octaves as I go. I only mute the temperament octave, and then only after the second pass. Then I'll tune the temperament, bichords, then the top treble, then the monos. On the last pass I tune right up to C88, then down to A1 from E32. (*except once, to measure Gamelan pitches for a concert tuning featuring piano and Gamelan) Mick Danby
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