Hi Stephen, Check the archives this was just recently a topic. At 01:00 PM 01/14/2002 -0800, you wrote: >Ok, so 2 passes is always better than one. > >Here's part of my question -- when a piano is, within, >say, 2 or 3 cents, is one pass OK? Or, what is the >max it can be off before two passes is recommended? > >Also, what is the farthest flat for a piano to be >before you all might recommend three passes (one up to >pitch with no overpull, second with overpull, third >fine tune)? Also, is there ever any case where >someone would recommend four or more passes? (We'll >assume that the pinblock and bridges are in fair >condition (good enough to take a pitch raise).) > >--- David Love <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net> wrote: >> 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 >> > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! >http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ > Regards, Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T. mailto:drpt@sk.sympatico.ca http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/ 3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK S4S 5G7 306-352-3620 or 1-888-29t-uner
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