tuning speed

[David Love]

Reading all these posts on whether one pass or two is more accurate I think
that the focus has been in the wrong area.  All things being equal, two
passes will always be more accurate than one.  A second pass at some level
should always be done to insure accuracy. The question should really be
about what should be accomplished on each pass.  The answer lies partially
in the psychology of perception.

One's ability to make fine discriminations will always be related to the
range of the field.  The smaller the range, the greater ones ability to make
fine discriminations.  In practice, that means that if you are pulling the
piano into tune from all over the place, you will not be able to
discriminate subtleties in the quality of the unisons that you would be if
the piano were already basically in tune.  Similarly, for example, if you
are adjusting repetition springs and the tensions are somewhat chaotic, you
will not be able to perceive small differences as easily on the first pass
as you will on the second.  Thus the argument for going over a regulation
more than once as well.

As far as what you should try to accomplish on each pass, then, on the first
pass you should try to get the piano in as good tune as possible without
lingering too long.  My goal is that if I leave it after the first pass, I
won't have much doubt as to its acceptibility.  You should definitely
concentrate on making sure that each string is set and stable.  For me that
means tuning with test blow force, checking with soft blows, and not leaving
any string until I am confident that it is going to stay there.  A quick
first pass that doesn't achieve at least that is, to me, a waste of time.
On the second pass, one should only be listening to the unisons and making
very small refinements.  The fewer changes you have to make, the easier it
will be to make very fine discriminations.  You certainly don't want to be
guessing as to whether any note will withstand a hard blow.  If you are in
doubt, you better check each pin again.  One or two unisons that don't hold
from normal playing is too many.

As far as speed goes, it doesn't really matter.  If you find after much
practice that it takes you 4 hours to tune a piano you might want to
consider whether your ability to earn enough money might be compromised.  I
personally can't do a good solid tuning in much less than an hour and it's
usually 1.00 - 1.25 hours for a piano that is basically out of tune.  When I
was a strict aural tuner, it took a little bit longer.  I do them faster
sometimes for a variety of reasons, but I like to feel confident when I
leave the piano that there aren't any whiny unisons and that the piano will
stand up to very hard playing.  I charge accordingly and make no compromises
between my ability to earn a living and deliver quality work.

David Love