I know alot of other techs snicker when I bring up the idea pitch stability, but I just don't care. You can't ensure a stable tuning until the soundboard is stabilized. In order to get this it's pitch raise, pitch raise, pitch raise. If a piano is somewhat consistently 2 cents flat, I do a 50% target over pitch, so obviously, I tune 1 cent sharp at least in the center of the piano up to F6 or so, as quickly as possible. Then pull up the unisons, then strip just the temperment octave or sometimes from A4 all the way down, and start over. And pound the hell out of it if circumstances allow. By the way, I always tuning from an open string unison to the next octave up or down. As I work through a section I check for consistent tenths, thirds, sixths, etc..... Always open string unisons to catch any errant unisons. I have a long time contract for a 5 star hotel where I tune 16 to 20 pianos a month, so I see the same pianos over and over again and get to evaluate my work often and study how these pianos go out of tune. Its mostly an open air facility with a man-made lake in the center. It's amazing to see how consistently they go out due to the environmental condidtions changing. I get to note out of a 3-string-unison which strings go out of tune and approximately how much. I would estimate (not having any stringent scientific study on the subject) that the differing lengths of each of the 3 strings has the most to do with the unison drift. Once again, I wait to hear from Professor Nossman (Ron) on this matter. Bruce P -----Original Message----- From: johnparham <johnparham at piano88.com> To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Thu, Nov 4, 2010 9:06 am Subject: Re: [pianotech] Stability techniques Phil, Thank you for this question. I have been tuning for about 7 years, so I ave limited experience. Tuning stability, however, will always in the orefront of my mind. Whether a technician has a wide range of skills r a narrow range of skills, the quintessential skill in our profession s the ability to produce a solid, stable tuning. Recognizing that every technician invests a different amount of time and ffort into their own professional development, I have always leaned oward focusing on fundamentals. If you can produce a stable tuning, at east you can deliver a product worth selling, even if that's all you an do. To add what has already been said, here is my perspective on tuning tability. 1. Tight pins that render well--- I pull the string slightly above itch, then below pitch, then center the string with a clockwise pull of he hammer. Pounding it in is less important. 2. Tight pins that DON'T render well--- I pull the string slightly above itch, then below pitch, then I repeat the process until I feel that I ave equalized the string tension, as much as possible, between the uning pin and capo bar / capo bar to speaking length. Leaving the itch slightly sharp, I pound the note down to pitch. 3. "Soggy" pins that render way too easily--- This type of pin is way to ensitive to the slightest pressure from the hammer. I pull the string bove pitch, below pitch, then slightly above pitch. As I settle it ack down, I push it slightly below pitch then pull it up very slightly o pitch. I want the last movement of the hammer to be pulling the note p. The last movement, to me, is my effort to relax the flexing of the in. This point is the point I "feel" the pin is the most stable. I on't try to force it to the place I want the pitch to be. If the pitch s sharp, I pull it sharp to the point where I feel the tuning pin wisting at the bottom of the pin. I repeat the process until the pitch s right. Pounding is less important. My techniques are still a work in progress. -John Parham ickory, NC > -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [pianotech] Stability techniques From: Phil Bondi <phil at philbondi.com> Date: Sat, October 30, 2010 8:37 pm To: pianotech at ptg.org Hi Tom. Thanks for that reply. I've been caring for the area Steinway for 12 years so I feel I have some experience. The reason for the question was more for finding out what's out there..who is doing what. The venue where the piano resides is not as active as it has been in the past, so these tunings need to be more solid overall. The C#5/D5 break area of this D has always been a puzzler for stability until I beat all 6 strings within a mil of their life last year. This is the first time I have seen the piano since April. Overall I am pleased with how it weathered the summer and how it has faired through its first and second tuning of the season. Just looking for other ideas..and thanks for yours. It is appreciated. -daRook -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20101104/f20c2262/attachment.htm>
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