[pianotech] Reducing tuning time (was Re: frustrated)

[tnrwim at aol.com]

Duaine. 

We've told you over and over that you can't do a pitch raise in one pass and expect it to stay. You will get much better results, and probably in a shorter period of time, if you do a fast pitch raise and then a fine tuning.

For the pitch raise, measure how flat A4 is and then offset your ETD 25% higher than it is flat. (If it's 40 cents flat offset the ETD 10 cents sharp). Start with the last note in the bass and tune down to A1. Then start at the first note of the treble and go up to C8. You can use your rubber mutes for this the way you describe it. 

Don't try to get each string dead on,  don't go for dead on unisons, and don't try to set each pin.  The name of the game is increasing tension on the whole piano. The first couple of times it might take about half an hour, but after a little experience you should be able to do this in about 15 minutes

Once you've got the piano up to pitch do a regular tuning. If you want to start at A1, that's fine. Personally I like to tune a piano the same way I just described doing a pitch raise. 

Wim

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 11, 2013, at 12:04 PM, Duaine Hechler <dahechler at att.net> wrote:

> I've been tuning, with an ETD, now for about 13 years and I can't seem to get much faster than about 2 hrs.
> 
> First, 99% of my tunings are pitch raises - one pass - with a very wide range of cents - usually way flat.
> 
> Hear is the basics I do.
> 
> - Start from A0 and go up.
> - Leap frog mutes - (M=mute, TM = tune middle, TL = tune left, TR = tune right, S = String group)
> 
>  (I think this is accurate ? - I had to draw the strings and place and move mutes on paper)
> 
>  M1 - TM1 - M2 | M2 - S2 - M1 | TL1 | TM2 | M1 - S3 - M2 | TR1 | TL2 | TM3 | M2 - S4 - M1 | TR2 | TL3 | TM4 ..............
> 
>  So I think I'm already moving mutes as little as possible.
> 
> - Pull strings slightly sharp of pitch then back down to pitch (seems better for stability)
> - Check for stability
> 
> I know that going sharp and coming back down -  takes time.
> 
> Any pointers to get faster ? On the upper treble, is it better (hearing wise) to pull up to pitch or go down to pitch ?
> 
> On 01/11/2013 12:22 PM, tunerboy3 at comcast.net wrote:
>> I wouldn't waste that much time on any piano. 4 or 5 hours on just the tuning? No way.
>> 
>> I will normally spend about one hour to tune a piano. 2 hours if it's a concert tuning.
>> 
>> I would try to figure out what the problem is.
>> 
>> Jerry Groot RPT
>> www.grootpiano.com
> 
> -- 
> Duaine Hechler
> Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ - Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
> (314) 838-5587 / dahechler at att.net / www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
> Home & Business user of Linux - 12 years
>