On Dec 3, 2008, at 11:40 AM, Douglas Wood wrote: > The very small window of acceptability for the shape of the tuning > remains--it's part of the musical character. And the tuning will not > be stable until the pins are in EXACTLY the right position. Very > demanding of tuning technique. But then exceptionally stable. > > So while I'd not go so far as to say they're a pleasure to tune, > they are much better. And I find them a remarkable pleasure to play. > > Fast is something I've never managed with tuning them. But I've > found that the reward for extra effort in tuning is that they are > amazingly stable. I have a couple that I visit every 3 or 4 years, > and I'm almost embarrassed to collect my fee. I agree that the 1098 demands, really demands that the tuning pin be turned to exactly the right position more than most other pianos. And that if you do that, you get quite good stability. But I believe that if you do that with any piano you get very good stability. Other pianos may be more "forgiving" for the time being (you can get a very clean tuning more easily that lasts at least until you are out the door <G>), but what it amounts to often is that you have manipulated string one way or another past a friction point, and it's not going to stay. Hence, less long term stability, or so it seems to me. It will creep over time. Maybe not in response to one or two test blows. I find the 1098 changes with humidity change about on a par with the average upright. The one I take care of at a private school (for which I have 12 years of data) moves 10-45 cents in an average seasonal RH flux from 5 - 45%. 10 to 45 means that the strings that change least (eg, bass) move 10 cents, those that move most (low tenor, treble break, and, in the case of 1098, extreme high treble) move up to 45 cents. This is about equal to the Yamaha P22s at the same location. Less change than the Hamilton 243 or the Everett studios, which move more in the extreme high treble. It may be that the 1098 sounds a bit more in tune with itself more of the time, because the low tenor and treble break notes in the Yamaha moves very fast and far in response to humidity change, faster than the 1098. Major pitch change is different, not necessarily bad in my experience. I find that if I use standard offsets, I end up overshooting pitch by quite a bit. So when it is within 15 cents, I just tune to pitch and run through again to touch up. When it is 20 cents or more, I do a minor offset of maybe 10%, just offset the ETD (no reading or letting the ETD decide). If I do this, I find it no more trouble than any other piano. On the whole, I think it can be a fine instrument if well prepped. Unfortunately, I rarely see a well prepped one. When we have been selecting for purchase, the ones we have found in the store have been pretty mediocre - maybe just due to things like tight key bushings, so so regulation, and dull hammers. At the price, the dealer should spend a bit of money on prep, but hey, I'm just a tech <G>. Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico fssturm at unm.edu
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC