[pianotech] tuning equipment

[Bill Fritz]

I'd agree w/ Paul... focus on the basics first.

Tell her to get the piano tuned by a pro... and then as the piano's unisons go out of tune, tell her to experiment w/ pulling them in.  Focus on getting 2-string unisons (compare to middle, which should theoretically yield outside string unisons).  Up & Down the keyboard

Then when she plays the piano after unison tuning (each time), have her listen to the sound of her pieces.  Do they sound right?  If they don't, then have her start moving middle strings by tuning octaves w/ the middle octave as her basis.

I'd also suggest (and should have earlier) to give her a few simple instructions on stability... and teach her the "whack" method of trying to disturb what she just accomplished w/ pitch.

Of course, the temperament will eventually "crash"... so an ETD would be nice to help pull things back somewhat close, though at this point, for at least the first 3 occurrences, have her recall her Pro Tuner and let them get it all back to where it should be, re-establishing the "reference" point, from which she can then "dabble".

Get a low-cost hammer that will fit the piano, 3-5 mutes... and she's off & running.  (Maybe even one of your co-tuners in the chapter might have an old hammer they would part with for a few bucks!)

Bill Fritz, St Louis



From:
Paul McCloud <pmc033 at earthlink.net>

To:
pianotech at ptg.org

Subject:
Re: [pianotech] tuning equipment

Date:
Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:09:40 -0700


Cheapest ETD is probably TuneLab, or a used Accutuner. 
She should try tuning unisons first, to get a feel for using the hammer. If she can't do unisons, an ETD isn't going to help much. Learning to tune by ear is actually the cheapest way, and she'll have more fun learning to hear beats, etc. Aural tuning is more interesting than watching lights or a screen. These won't tell you much about what's going on behind the scenes. My guess is, if you lent her your ETD and let her try tuning, she'd give up in a short while. Without some kind of motive ($$$) other than intellectual stimulation, the learning curve is too steep for most people. If she just wants to dabble on her own piano, trust me she'll become a very loyal customer in a VERY short time when she finds out it isn't all that easy to do. 
My too scents. 
Paul McCloud 
SaN DIeGo 

On 06/04/2012 10:47 PM, Tom Gorley wrote: 
> The 50 year old daughter of a former client wants to dabble with piano 
> tuning. She doesn't want to go into business, just learn something new. 
> She wants to get a middle-of-the-road hammer. Does anyone have an 
> opinion on a basic ETD for her? 
> * 
> * 
> **Tom Gorley 
>> Registered Piano Technician 
>> **(650) 948-9522 
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