self tuning piano????

[Delwin D Fandrich]

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Well, I don't think it is being presented as fait accompli just yet. =
Certainly there are obstacles to overcome, the most formidable of which =
probably haven't even been thought of yet. But then, when I started =
driving it was necessary to change spark plugs and do a complete engine =
tune-up every 10,000 or 20,000 miles. The Honda dealer doesn't want to =
see the engine of my wife's new CRV for 110,000 miles. Even the oil =
changes don't come up but every 10,000 miles. Many of the technologies =
we now accept as standard took some considerable amount of time and =
effort to develop and bring to a level of 'perfection' that makes them =
usable to the masses.=20

And, yes, it will help to get a few piano technicians and/or rebuilders =
involved in the thing before too long. I'm reminded of another promising =
development that fell by the wayside because knowledgeable piano people =
weren't involved in its development early enough: the Currier composite =
panel plate piano. The thing presented to the public as a finished =
product was untunable! But it could have been. And had it's development =
been accompanied by some solid input from the piano technical community =
working with Kaman's aerospace  engineers I've no doubt it would today =
be in common use. There were no major technological hurdles that could =
not have been overcome. The instruments presented to the public were so =
poorly developed and executed, however, the entire concept -- rather =
than its rather pathetic implementation -- was condemned beyond salvage.

As may be, whether or not this particular self-tuning technology goes on =
to become standard equipment on today's piano -- and I rather doubt that =
it will, at least not in the near-term -- it does focus attention on one =
aspect of the piano that most of the industry would (and does) rather =
like to ignore: tuning stability and the need to periodically retune the =
piano.=20

In my opinion if the average piano would hold a musically acceptable =
tuning for a even couple of years -- and this is a goal readily =
attainable using today's technology -- there would be virtually no =
interest in developing a self-tuning device. As it is these devices will =
keep coming along and they will be developed and tweaked and one day =
either this or another idea not yet thought of will be made to work.=20

Whether we like it or not.

Del


  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Wimblees@AOL.COM=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: July 02, 2002 10:07 AM
  Subject: Re: self tuning piano????


  In a message dated 7/2/02 10:25:32 AM Central Daylight Time, =
pianobuilders@olynet.com writes:=20



    Well, I'll not go on. It's clear that we must trash every new idea =
that=20
    comes along in this business.=20


  Del=20

  You make some very good points. I will agree that somewhere down the =
road this might be a very good workable contraption, which might =
revolutionize the music world. Cars and planes were invented, and it =
developed whole new industries. But you just don't walk into a hanger =
and get in a plane. You can't even drive a car without a license. Yes, =
almost every one knows how to drive, but you have to have some degree of =
training. But what this contraption is attempting to do, at this point, =
is like asking the run of the mill customer to buy a car with a special =
contraption that automatically changes the oil, adjust the timing, and =
even clean the spark plugs. If you asked a mechanic about something like =
that, they would have the same reaction I have. It isn't that the =
invention is useless. I list don't think it is something that should be =
sold "over the counter."=20

  Wim=20

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