Bluthner on Bluthner

[Geoff Sykes]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
Greetings all --
=20
I have been following the conversation on how to tune the fourth string =
on a
Bluthner piano and what I noticed is that everybody appears to be =
guessing.
I'm sure that is not really the case, but most of the responses sure =
read
that way. Anyway, I decided to do a little research and wrote to =
Bluthner UK
directly. Below is my message to them and one R D Wilson's reply.=20
=20
I recently had the opportunity to look over an older Bluthner concert =
grand.
It had been in storage and was about to be shipped back out to the =
owner. In
investigating the fourth string on this piano I sadly discovered that =
while
the ones in the treble section were fine, all of them in the alto =
section
had been deliberately damped off with stringing braid. So much for =
seeing
how they might have been tuned. Why do you suppose this was done?
=20
-- Geoff Sykes
-- Assoc. Los Angeles
=20
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
=20
=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Geoff  <mailto:thetuner@ivories52.com> Sykes=20
To: info@bluthner.co.uk=20
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 7:03 AM
Subject: Question on fourth string tuning


Greetings --
=20
Recently, on the Piano Technicians Guild email discussion group, there =
has
been much talk on the correct way to tune the fourth string on Bluthner
pianos. So far everybody admits to be either just guessing, or posting
personal experiences that gave pleasing results to them. I thought that =
the
best way to find the real answer would be to go to the source. Therefore =
I
have a couple of questions:
=20
1: Why was this fourth string introduced to the Bluthner piano, and what =
is
it's purpose?
=20
2: What is the correct, or suggested, method of tuning that string and =
how
does the tuning of that string relate to the three unisons below it? In
other words, is it tuned beatless to the unisons below it or is it tuned =
to
a different partial altogether?
=20
I look forward to your answers and hope that by adding them into the
discussion we might all learn something.
=20
Thanks --
=20
Geoff Sykes
Associate Member
Los Angeles Chapter
Piano Technicians Guild
=20
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
=20
Dear Mr Sykes
=20
Thank you for your recent email.  My apologies for the delay in replying =
due
to my absence from our offices due to illness.
=20
In response to your questions, I should advise as follows:
=20
1.  Most manufacturers have tried to create a unique feature to their
instruments.  Bluthner was a pioneer of thinking and development of his
pianos and created the Aliquot system as a string which was affixed to
certain models of grand pianos, was never struck but intended to vibrate =
in
sympathy to surrounding notes when the damper restricting its movement =
was
lifted.
=20
The new Bluthner catalogue and technical information on the web site =
give
further details and it should be noted that an Aliquot system is fitted =
to
all Bluthner grands above the 5' 1"/154cms model.
=20
The early Aliquot system was very clearly obvious, having its own bridge =
in
the centre of the soundboard covering the alto and ending just beyond =
the
treble bar break.  An individual brass stud was fitted to the slim =
Aliquot
bridge and a string affixed.  This string was damped by a small =
additional
damper on the side of the main damper.
=20
The principle is that as a piano is played, the soundboard is naturally
vibrating, therefore the Aliquot bridge would be vibrating, creating
vibration on the string which should enhance the sound obtained.
=20
As with any device, there will always be critics, but you and your =
technical
friends in the Piano Technicians Guild will know that the Aliquot is =
indeed
doing something as when trying to tune a Bluthner grand with the Aliquot
system, clear tuning of the struck strings cannot be undertaken unless =
the
Aliquot strings are damped.
=20
On new Bluthner grands there is no separate Aliquot bridge and indeed =
the
inexperienced eye may look at a grand and consider no Aliquot is fitted.
This, as previously stated, is incorrect and the treble bridge beyond =
the
treble break in the grand has four strings, all using the main bridge, =
but
the fourth string being slightly higher and not actually hit by the =
hammer.
=20
2.  Tuning.
=20
Where the Aliquot strings have their own individual bridge, the strings
should be tuned an octave above the unison.  Where the Aliquot bridge =
ceases
and Aliquot studs are fitted to the main treble bridge, they should be =
tuned
in unison or generally slightly sharp to unison.
=20
As a practicing tuner/technician for some thirty-five/forty years and
working extensively on Bluthners, I personally found that the simplest =
way
to tune these was to initially lay a piece of listing felt over the =
Aliquot
strings and tune the piano in the normal way, subsequently returning and
playing the note an octave above the Aliquot string that was to be =
tuned,
plucking the Aliquot string and tuning to the note struck an octave =
above.
=20
Obviously when moving to the treble section where the strings are tuned =
in
unison or just over unison, then the simplest method is to either pluck =
the
trichord and the Aliquot string or play the trichord and pluck the =
string,
tuning to unison or just over.
=20
It is easy to talk about these things, but upon re-reading this email, I
wonder if I have been clear or not, but hope this is helpful to you and =
any
of your colleagues.  Could I say that if any of you should be in the =
West
End of London, we would be delighted to see you at the new Bluthner
showrooms at the address below.
=20
With best wishes to you all.
=20
Yours sincerely
R D Willson
=20
=20
---------------------------------------------
Bl=FCthner Piano Centre Ltd.
1 Davies Street
Berkeley Square
Mayfair
LONDON W1K 3DB
Tel. 020 7753 0533
Fax. 020 7753 0535
Email:  <mailto:info@bluthners.co.uk> info@bluthners.co.uk
Website:  <http://www.bluthners.co.uk/> www.bluthners.co.uk


---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/70/8d/eb/54/attachment.htm

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--