Tuning Two Together

[David ilvedson]

I'm with you John.  Tune each piano as best you can to 
whatever is the pitch reference and everything will be fine!  I 
done this many times.

David I.

From:           	"John M. Formsma" <jformsma@dixie-net.com>
To:             	<pianotech@ptg.org>
Subject:        	RE: Tuning Two Together
Date sent:      	Fri, 17 Dec 1999 20:32:57 -0600
Send reply to:  	pianotech@ptg.org

> Newton et. al.,
> 
> Is this "standard procedure"?  I've only had to tune pianos together once.
> Had a 7' Baldwin, Baldwin console, and Aeolian Mason & Hamlin upright.  What
> I decided to do was to use the SAT and tune each to its own FAC numbers.  My
> thinking was to get each piano in tune with itself, and they would have to
> blend together like that.  What would have been best to do in this
> situation?  I thought about averaging FAC's, but the Baldwin 7' was a church
> sanctuary piano, and it needed to be tuned for normal use.
> 
> John Formsma
> Blue Mountain, MS
> 
> *********
> 
> Aurally tune the better piano VERY carefully then tune the second to
> the first.  Have the pianos keyboard t keyboard so you can cross
> reference.  Octaves and unisons are most important not beat rates
> except on the first piano.  Don't be surprised if the worse one sounds
> not as good and the better one, this is inherent in tuning dissimilar
> pianos together.
> 
> If you are use an SAT take the measurements from each piano,
> carefully, then average the Fs, As, and Cs and use those values for
> the tunings.
> 
> CHarge the price of tuning three pianos because of the extra time and
> effort involved.
> 
> 		Newton
> 
> Johannes28@AOL.COM wrote:
> >
> > Seasons Greetings to All!!
> >
> > I have a question about tuning two grands of different sizes to each
> other.
> > These pianos are played together.  One is a little tiny 4 foot piano, the
> > other a 6 foot.  I know that if one is careful about setting them both to
> the
> > fork EXACTLY, and being very careful about temperament setting, the two
> > pianos should sound ok together.  (Though extreme regions may not be in
> tune
> > due to the differences in scaling.)
> >
> > I've also heard that to really make sure they are going to be in good tune
> > together with no funky wolves, you should get someone else to play
> > temperament notes on the already tuned piano and compare the second piano
> to
> > it as you set your temperament.
> >
> > Anyone got any other ideas about how to make sure they come out perfect?
> And
> > don't tell me to buy an SAT, I don't have the bucks for that!!!
> >
> > Have a great season!
> >
> > Johannes28@aol.com
> 
> 


David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net