[pianotech] tuning

[David Nereson]

    I don't think attraction of dirt is the threat so much as 
the possibility that liquids could wander up to the tuning pins 
and into the pinblock, which seems unlikely to me, unless one is 
aiming a spray can right at the pins.  But on very rusty bass 
strings, I have used Protek or WD-40 sprayed into a bottle cap, 
then used a toothpick, not an eyedropper, to dip into the bottle 
cap and just touch the contact point between string and upper 
bridge (or nut) pin or pressure bar.
    By the way, it's 'summary,' 'summarize,' not 'summer,' which 
is a season.  If English is not your native language, you're 
excused.
    --David Nereson, RPTG

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marshall Gisondi" <pianotune05 at hotmail.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 4:26 PM
Subject: [pianotech] tuning



HI Ron, Dave,
Could you guys then summerize this method of tuning that 
shortens tuning time?  I was taught to play the note hard, 
whether unison, octave or interval and tune it while it's 
sounding strong, and hit the note again move the pin etc. How do 
you guys do 10ths with one hand. My hands aren't long enough. Is 
this tuning method I learned the one you guys describe?  In the 
beginning, I used to wander too much, but now I'm working hard 
to barely go above before I settle it in. On some occasions I 
just move it up enough to hear the whine or roll appear.  I also 
find that little movements almost squeezing the lever handle 
using forearm movements rather than arm movements helps really 
hone that note in.  Having that training from the school sure 
helped me, but I'd like to speed up a little more. I'm at about 
an hour in a half to almost two depending on the type of piano 
mostly an hour and 45 minutes. I want to shorten this time.  So 
a summery woudl be great.  I'm always up for trying new things. 
I'm used to being flexible.

Also is there anything I can do to rusty strings to decrease the 
chance of breakage besides giving ti a little bump in the flat 
direction?  I heard that putting lube of some kind on the 
strings works, but I 've also heard that dirt will accumulate to 
the strings if one lubricates the strings.  Thanks guys.
Marshall

Marshall Gisondi Piano Technician
Marshall's Piano Service
pianotune05 at hotmail.com
215-510-9400
www.phillytuner.com
Graduate of The School of Piano Technology for the Blind 
www.pianotuningschool.org Vancouver, WA