Hi Ralph, That's what I thought at first too, however when I checked it out, I determined otherwise. Here's a quote from page 102-103: "The second method is called "bend and kink." With this method the tuner tries to avoid turning the tuning pin. Instead, he sets the string in motion as outlined previously, and by lifting on the pin, attempts to bring the string up through the pressure points. He then slightly lowers the overall tension by bearing outward on the handle of the tuning lever so as to lower the pin into the bottom of the tuning pin hole. By avoiding tuning pin wrenching, tuners prolong the life of the pin block, and, if successful in lifting the string, should establish a rather firm tuning." While this is presented as one of three methods of tuning that the author has observed, he in no way repudiates it, but in fact he says his own method (the one he is recommending) is "based on the salient tension equalizing and pin torque reducing practices which are found in the three discussed." I wonder if "Dr." Stevens has offered to extract the number of broken tuning pins that have resulted from enthusiastic application of this technique. Bill, I'm sorry (an a bit puzzled why) you are taking this criticism personally and portraying others as "taking so much pleasure in condemning" it. As RPTs, novice technicians have a right to look to us for reliable recommendations and we shouldn't be shy about exposing bad information. This is a bad book, and I can't see anything useful in it that can't be learned from books by Travis, Riblett and White for that matter - all without having to wade through potentially harmful stuff. Unless you want to learn how to tune with a StroboConn or tune old electronic organs, I guess. I'm surprised you compared this book to White's. One of the amazing things about that book has always been how well it's basic principles have held up over time. If you want to compare, read the information on tuning technique on page 101 - quite a difference. Mark Story, RPT Eastern Washington University mstory@ewu.edu -----Original Message----- From: ralph m martin <rmartin30@juno.com> To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org> Date: Monday, October 27, 1997 6:41 PM Subject: Re: Do you know this Man ??????? Hi Mark Actually, quite a few techs were advocating "bending the pin" back in the 60's. They didn't mean to actually BEND the pin literally. I quote from a portion of John Travis' book "Let's Tune Up": after stressing Not to actually bend the pin, John said, "Now, practice lifting the pin slightly off the pin bushing from the botton and at the same time, turn the pin forward until you are thoroughly accustomed to the give or feel as the pin moves in the pin block." This when the hammer is about the one o'clock position in a vertical piano. I take this to mean pressing away from you slightly so that the pin moves very slightly upward off the pin bushing. I further discussed this with John during a phone conversation. While I do not necessarily endorse this practice and do not use the tuning hammer in this fashion, I mention it because it may be the technique that Stevens was attempting to explain. Could this be it? for what it's worth Ralph Martin MPT
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