Jon, and other pitch-floater rationalizers, More power to you, and all your points are understood and well-taken. I would like to point out one observation, though, from tuning pianos to 440.... I've found that in a lot of cases, a piano that is allowed to float is more likely to float. I do both, of course, to fit the situation. Many of my gigs require 440, and quite a few are allowed to float a little bit,(usually matching the bass). What I've noticed is that piano that always hits 440 will be more likely to stay near there, just as floaters float. I don't think that the extra "cranking" is excessive, unless there's a real pin tightness problem anyway. I have always believed that there's a stability factor at the pressure zones and rendering areas. When I tune a piano that had many tunings in it's initial years, it seems to know where it belongs, even after it's been allowed to go way flat. You can feel it. When I tune a piano that I displayed and used as a recital piano for six months or more, with lots of initial tunings, the dern things stay put forever. Just an observation, as I said. Guy At 08:45 PM 1/28/2006 -0500, you wrote: >I realize that some tuners prize the opportunity for pitch correction >and tuning then boast about the money making venture. > >For the most part, I see that as a disservice to the customer. >I'm not referring to major pitch corrections of a quarter to half >tone flat but within 2 to 4 beats either side. > >Unless there is a compelling reason to maintain 440 because of >playing with fixed-pitch instruments or a Pianomation or similar; >floating the pitch benefits the customer financially and reduces pin >wrenching on the piano. The tuning is more stable having not >subjected the piano to a tension change. > >For those compelled to set the piano to 440 at a tuning consider >where the pitch will reside between tunings. I instruct the owners >that if I tune it to 438 now that it will traverse through 440 as the >humidity elevates and ending up sharp of 440. Then the tuning >during high humidity will be at 442 or 444 depending on the >fluctuation. Once I know the range, I can tune it seasonally to >maintain a 440 median, also taking into account the relative >position of the bass and treble; levelling off. I strive for the least >overall tension change. > >Where there has been a financial concern but not a pitch concern, >I have pulled it up the maximum amount to be still left with an >appreciable tuning. Over a few years the piano is at pitch. >Or yanked it up for beginners' ear training sacrificing the extremes; >they'll be pulled-in with subsequent tunings as the students progress. > >You can pull it up 4 bps (16 cents) and be left with an appreciable tuning. >-- > >Regards, > >Jon Page >_______________________________________________ >Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >
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