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

[Leslie Bartlett]

One consideration is to use back-rail action cloth. One roll makes two
strips, is stronger, frays a little but doesn't get yukky as I find muting
strips do..

Les bartlett

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of tnrwim at aol.com
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 10:44 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Reducing tuning time (was Re: frustrated)

 

Would thick key bushing cloth work ? (I have a whole roll of that - used in 
various places for player work)
 
Duaine

 

Duaine

 

If you're going to use a strip mute, Schaff actually sells that. (page 36),
in .165", .135" and .115" thickness, 50" long, and tapering from 3/4" to
1/2" wide. Measure your keybusing cloth and see how close that is. Or, look
at some of the other felts you've got, and see which works best for you. 

 

For the midsection, you need to push the strip between the strings and give
it enough of a loop to allow the middle string to vibrate. For the upper
section, put the temperament strip on top of the dampers, and when you've
got them all done, pull the dampers away with your fingers, and push the
strip between the strings and the damper felts. Be careful that you don't
damage the damper felts. On some pianos, the dampers don't want to come away
from the string very much, so put your business card between the string and
the damper, and the temperament strips will go down very easy. When you tune
this section, the strings will vibrate a little, as if you've got the damper
pedal on, but not enough to where it interferes with the tuning. 

 

But I stopped using a temperament strip about 10 years ago. I found using
rubber mutes, even for a pitch raise, is much faster and easier. Since
you're already doing that, don't change your method.  For the upper treble,
I use a split mute, part 204 on page 36. 

 

Wim

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Duaine Hechler <dahechler at att.net>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Fri, Jan 11, 2013 4:58 pm
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Reducing tuning time (was Re: frustrated)

Thanks, this is all great advice.
 
Now - what are the tricks to strip mute ?
 
When I first started, I tried to strip mute and could never get enough space
in 
the loops and the felt seemed too thick.
 
Also, since most of mine are uprights, it seems the traditional strip mute
is 
too wide for the upper notes (either the 
dampers are in the way or the hammers are blocks)
 
There must be a special technique for getting the right size loop - and - 
getting the right size mute felt so the above 
does not happen.
 
Would thick key bushing cloth work ? (I have a whole roll of that - used in 
various places for player work)
 
Duaine
 
On 01/11/2013 04:04 PM, Duaine Hechler 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
 
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