[pianotech] Scary Experience

[Will Truitt]

Hi Todd and Wim:

 

The pin block may be tight, but that's not necessarily the problem.  If this
is a modern Baldwin, the tuning pin holes are drilled through a small hole
in the plate, and there is no plate bushing.  The underside of the plate is
relieved at the hole (wider at the bottom, narrower at the top) and
unfortunately Baldwin was not always careful in fitting the block to the
plate flange.  The net result is that you will often see tuning pins binding
against the front of that plate hole, and lots of binding friction  between
the pin and the plate.  Jumpy, snappy, hard to control tuning pins are the
result; along with a  tuner muttering, cursing, and gnashing teeth.  

 

The best thing to do in this situation is to accept that suffering is part
of the human condition, and try not to wail out loud every time you run into
one of these.  

 

Will Truitt

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of wimblees at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 1:35 AM
To: toddpianoworks at att.net; pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Scary Experience

 

Todd

The snap you heard is the pin turning in the pin block. It has nothing to do
with the string. Baldwin grands are notorious for having very tight pins,
and they are a bear to fine tune. It just takes a lot of experience, and
patience.  

Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
Mililani, Oahu, HI
808-349-2943
Author of: 
The Business of Piano Tuning
available from Potter Press
www.pianotuning.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Sat, 6 Dec 2008 4:59 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Scary Experience


So today I tuned a Baldwin grand that had rusty strings.  The rust wasn't
throughout the strings just in splotches along each string.  When I got to
the high treble I could not control the movement of the pitch as I was
tuning and that was one of the worst feelings!  When I wanted to turn the
hammer a little bit, I heard a loud 'snap' and the pitch got away from me
and went way sharp.  I am assuming this is due the capo bar binding on the
strings due to the rust?  Anyway, what is the best approach to this type of
situation?  I am almost ashamed to say, but that tuning today was at best,
second rate, only because I was kind of nervous about not having control of
what I was doing and possible string breakage.

 

Thank you,

TODD PIANO WORKS 
Matthew Todd, Piano Technician 
(979) 248-9578

http://www.toddpianoworks.com <http://www.toddpianoworks.com/> 

 

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