Tuning sequence question

[Jim Johnson]

MessageI have been tuning aurally for 40 years and this is the method which has proven best for me.  Strip mute just the temperament octave.  Tune the temperament, center strings only, and then tune to the top using two rubber mutes, pulling up the unisons as you go.  (I don't strip the whole treble because I want to deal with the tension changes as I go, not just one third of the tension at a time.)  Then I tune from the temperament down through the bass, tuning bass unisons as I go.  Then I return and tune the unisons in the temperament octave.  I tune them by removing the felt strip one note at a time, tuning the left unison first and then the right unison to the other two strings.  I used to use a rubber mute for this part of the tuning, but I find simply removing the temp. strip and tuning the open strings is much faster.  The only problem doing it this way is if the left unison isn't perfect, you won't be able to tune the right one the way you want.  So what's the problem?  Just do a good job on the left one and you will get a good sounding unison on all three strings.  On uprights, I use a Mehaffey impact hammer, and on grands, a normal hammer.

I use this proceedure only when the piano is within 10 cents of the proper pitch.  More than that requires a pitch raise, for which I charge 1/2 my tuning fee on top of the normal fee.

Jim
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Geoff Sykes 
  To: 'Pianotech List' 
  Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 6:05 PM
  Subject: Tuning sequence question


  Greetings all --

  I know that when using an ETD the preferred method of tuning is from the bass up to the treble, tuning unisons as you go. Tests have apparently proven that this provides a more accurate and stable tuning when completed. 

  Traditionally, aural tuning means strip muting the entire piano, and after setting the temperament, all the center strings are then tuned moving first down into the bass and then up into the treble. After the center strings are tuned then unisons are set starting in the bass and moving up through the treble. 

  In doing an aural tuning, is there any reason why one could not, or perhaps should not, strip mute just the middle section of the piano, in order to set the temperament, then immediately set the unisons in the temperament, pulling out the strip mute as you go, followed by moving down into the bass tuning the first string and setting unisons as you go and subsequently up through the treble? 

  In other words, which aural tuning method of the two described above, would produce the more accurate and stable tuning when completed?

  -- Geoff Sykes
  -- Los Angeles
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