Tuning a Duo/Art player piano

[Joe And Penny Goss]

Hi Samuel,
You have recieved some great answers so I will only add to the information
you have recieved.
The parts that are in the way can be used to help you tune.
If you remove the screw on the right side holding the mute. loosen the left,
and a screw from one of the braces so that you can swing the brace out of
the way. You can then lift the mute arm up ( careful not to bend it ) then
return the brace to hold the mute up <G>
If there are no braces, or they are not where you want them you can use an
extra hammer on a tuning pin to do the same thing.
Usually the bass can be tuned without moving the mute. Its at the break
where things get in the way.
Just yesterday I mentioned my favorite mute for uprights, the LONG split
rubber mute.
You can single mute tune with an ETD but I much preffer the split single as
I can still tune the center string first and then the outside strings to the
center. With exception of the  notes at the tenor treble break to the end of
the dampers.
Here sometimes it is necessary to tune the left string, center to right and
then the left to the other two.
Yes I have used the papps mute but do not care for the sound as the hammer
hits the string.
And with the split mute I drill a hole in the end of the spring steel handle
and attach a foot long length of  'Spider Wire'  with a fishing swivel to a
wide rubber mute.
You do not want to have a mute pop out and fall into the action without some
way to retrieve it.
Good luck and be patient <G>
Joe Goss RPT
Mother Goose Tools
imatunr at srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Samuel Choy" <sam at scpianoservice.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 9:11 PM
Subject: Tuning a Duo/Art player piano


> Hello list,
>
> I have a job on Thursday to tune a Duo/Art player piano, about 30 years
old.
> I have not tuned a player piano...but fortunately the client let me take a
> look at it before I decided whether to accept the job. I was up front with
> him that I have not tuned  player piano before and would not charge him if
I
> do not think I'm up to the task.
>
> Problem is, it has a device in it that lowers between the strings and the
> hammers to give it a "rinky tink" sound.  On key 88, the device blocks the
> lowest tuning pin. I think I can work around it. Anyway, has anyone out
> there worked on a Duo/Art player? Anything gotcha's I should look out for?
>
> Regards,
>
> Samuel Choy.
>