>From personal experience (only 2 1/2 years, but I've tuned some doosies), a piano that old is unlikely to hold A@440 because of several problems, one of which may be a weak pin-block. A lower tuning after so many years may prove to be more stable at first than something higher up. ...I have more experience with crappy pianos than good ones... :p I've learned the hard way NOT to bring them up to A440: broken strings, slipping pins, cracking soundboards (very loud), etc.,etc... My husband (an aural tuner) said he'd tune B4 to A440 and go from there...hee,hee. :D One thing I have experimented with: Start out with a VERY ROUGH pitch raise of between 100 and 200 cents, then tune the piano DOWN to itself. As sections slip downward, keep lowering the piano until it quits slipping. This is probably NOT the most efficient way of doing it (takes a while)...I've just tried that on several pianos in the past to see what would happen as far as stablilty goes. By the time I was done, I think I became a little more crazy. ;) As far as beats go, you just have to judge proportionally, or shift 440 to another note...I suppose...? -mags,WV > "At the best 100 cents flat is the best to aim for with this sad,sad > piano". > > Why? > > Terry Farrell > > > "And, if you tune aurally with nothing but a 440 fork to relate > to, what do you do when you find yourself way below 440 and the > pitch is shiftng as you tune?" > > Hop aboard year 2005 and get yourself a Cybertuner with the great > pitch raise feature. > > Counting beats with a piano like this... is "Neanderthal tuning in > the extreme". > > At the best 100 cents flat is the best to aim for with this > sad,sad piano". > > This piano has been badly neglected to the extreme, so what ever > you do will be a BIG improvement. > > The customer just wants it tuned, so don't lose too much sleep!! > > Robin Stevens > South Australia > pianoman@westnet.com.au > >
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC