Floating pitch -- & ear plugs

[Otto Keyes]

We're talking Wurlitzer studios here guys!

Otto

Piano Technician
University of Idaho
208-885-7918
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
To: <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 6:00 PM
Subject: RE: Floating pitch -- & ear plugs


> Mark,
>          Do you then float up or down within this 4-5 cent window? If so
> why? Do you really find that the piano is unstable when correcting for
this
> minor amount? What if the orchestra is also using some other fixed pitch
> instrument? What if you really don't know how the piano will be used? or
> with what other instrument? String segments and wire tension
> notwithstanding the judgement call being made is that it's not important
to
> maintain standard pitch? is this the call your comfortable deciding for
> yourself?
>
> respectfully,
>
> Greg Newell
>
>
> At 06:30 PM 8/28/2002, you wrote:
> >In leveling, seating and straightening of strings, I try to have the
piano
> >(as I understand most of you do) at pitch. i.e.: settle the coils,
re-tune
> >to A:440, seat at the bridge, re-tune to A:440, lift at the agraffes,
> >re-tune to A:440, etc.
> >
> >The rational for this (I believe) is to have all the string segments
bearing
> >or terminating their very best, when the piano is at pitch. And this is
> >where it gets a bit murky,.. or not.
> >
> >I guess it depends on your mental image of what happens to the string
> >segments during a (climate-induced) pitch change. I see the  strings as
> >changing tension 'most' along the speaking length rather than at my
> >carefully straightened little segments at the capo, around the
hitch-pins,
> >etc.
> >
> >This comfortable delusion permits me to see things as returning pretty
much
> >to normal, after permitting a minor "pitch float." Whereas lowering or
> >raising string tension, in reaction to (climactic) pitch change, presents
> >the picture of hauling string hand-over-fist, through every termination
and
> >bearing point,... then, back again kinks and all, in the other direction
a
> >few weeks later. It seems alot like running to the other side of the boat
> >with every wave. (Which presents another picture; summer is almost gone
and
> >I haven't had the sailboat out once! :>(
> >
> >In response to Greg, climate control has brought most of our instruments
to
> >within a 4 or 5 cent window, which we can easily deal with. I think it is
a
> >good idea though to consider what all is going on in the piano when
climate
> >moves the pitch, other than just a change in string tension.
> >
> >Mark Cramer,
> >Brandon University
> >
> >       BTW, I hope you have all had a nice summer, and wish you well
during
> >the fall season!
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: owner-caut@ptg.org [mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Greg
> >Newell
> >Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 4:30 PM
> >To: caut@ptg.org
> >Subject: Re: Floating pitch -- & ear plugs
> >
> >
> >Otto,
> >          First I want to make clear that I'm responding to the thread in
> >general and not just your post. I clearly understand why those who do,
> >float pitch. That having been said I would try all I could to not do it.
I
> >can forsee a situation where someone knows the piano has "just been
tuned"
> >and yet another instrumentalist who just happens to have good pitch
memory
> >(Perfect Pitch) will remark to his or her group that the piano is flat.
> >perhaps even significantly. For those who do float pitch why is it that
you
> >can't simply explain to whatever institution that the temperature and
> >humidity fluctuations are simply too great and that Dampp Chasers must be
> >installed to maintain anything resembling correct and stable pitch? Money
> >is always an issue but if we always give them a way out will they not
> >always take it? My two cents.
> >
> >Greg Newell
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >At 02:57 PM 8/28/2002, you wrote:
> > >Several years ago I tuned for North Park College in Chicago.  We had a
> >bunch
> > >of Wurlitzer (Squirrelitzer) studios in the practice rooms of a
building
> > >that kept the rain off.  The pitch went up & down like a yo-yo on a
long
> > >string.  Initially, I spent many a day in those concrete cubicles,
> > >de-stabilizing those percussion, stringed instruments.  Aug. to Dec.
could
> > >see a 40 cent pitch drop in certain areas of the scale.  While they
were
> > >still cantankerous, floating the pitch a reasonable amount preserved my
> > >sanity (such as it is) and the departmental budget.
> > >
> > >On another note:
> > >It was in those bunkers that I learned to tune with ear plugs as well,
> > >though I did quit using them for several years after I left there, for
fear
> > >that customers might mistrust a piano tuner with ear plugs.  In recent
> >years
> > >I have gone back to wearing them, educating my customers of the decibel
> > >levels I generate, & reminding them that one may be a visually-impaired
> > >tuner, but there is not a lot of call for deaf piano tuners.  I have
found
> >I
> > >can concentrate better anyway, since it decreases the db level & cuts
out
> > >much of the distracting backgound noise.  Some poorly scaled pianos
will go
> > >muddy in some sections, particularly the upper treble, but you can
always
> > >pop them out for the offending note(s) & back in again.  I always do a
> >final
> > >check, sans ear plugs, anyway.  Good customers understand the
rationelle &
> > >are supportive.  Those who don't can always be referred to the sleazy
> > >"competition".  We make our living with our ears -- best preserve them
as
> > >long as possible.
> > >
> > >Otto
> > >
> > >Piano Technician
> > >University of Idaho
> > >208-885-7918
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Vanderhoofven" <dkvander@joplin.com>
> > >To: <caut@ptg.org>
> > >Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 9:16 AM
> > >Subject: Floating pitch
> > >
> > >
> > > > Dear Friends,
> > > >
> > > > In past years I have attempted to tune pianos in the colleges I tune
for
> > >to
> > > > A-440 each tuning.  This has caused me extra work (usually unpaid),
and
> > > > mental stress.
> > > >
> > > > This year I have floated pitch on every piano I have tuned, and I
feel
> >so
> > > > much happier!  No one has complained about the pianos being at A-442
or
> > > > A-443, and the pianos are behaving better.  When the temperature is
72
> > > > Fahrenheit, and the relative humidity is 83% indoors in the music
> > >building,
> > > > floating pitch is the only way to go.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks to Kent Swafford, I have finally seen the light!
> > > >
> > > > David Vanderhoofven
> > > > Joplin, MO
> > > >
> >
> >Greg Newell
> >mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
>
> Greg Newell
> mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
>