tuning question

[Kevin E. Ramsey RPT]

    You know, I've been tuning for years, and after I do a fine tuning
 pitch raise or no)  when I go back and listen to each note before I leave
the piano, invariably if one sounds a little off I always check the string
whose pin is closest to the pressure bar-agraffe first. Usually that's the
one causing the trouble, and it usually because it's creeped sharp. I used
to think that that was because I was trying to "set" the pin, when I should
have been "settling" the pin, but even after I've learned that lesson, it
still occurs. I don't worry about it, I'm just aware that it happens, and I
try to catch it when it does. I even go so far as to make sure I'm not
leaving any upward spring in the pin as I am settling it. Just my .02
-----Original Message-----
From: Farrell <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Friday, October 20, 2000 5:04 AM
Subject: Re: tuning question


>I know what the problem is! You are tuning too fast. You pitch raised
>(major, HA! - that was a world record!) a piano 600 cents and fine tuned it
>in just under two hours? You gotta be bionic. Are you for rent?
>
>On a more serious note, is there a typo here? If not, please shed some
light
>on your technique. (I am being serious here.) I am still in the
>under-1,000-piano-tuning-experience catagory and am always trying to
>increase my speed. Do you have a special technique, or just LOTS of
>practice?
>
>Even more to the point, yes, I have noticed the one string sharp thing
also.
>I use the Accu-Tuner and tune my unisons as I go. Therefore (on an upright)
>I tune the center string, the right string (bottom pin) and finally the
left
>string (top pin). When I am done tuning and I go back just to double check
>my unisons carefully, the norm is to find a few (well, maybe a bunch) of
>right strings (bottom pin) just a tad (as opposed to a tish - but that just
>may be my inexperience) sharper than the other two. I figured I was the
only
>one able to do that - so my assumption has always been that I was bumbling.
>Thanks, I feel better now. I'm going to practice to get from a tad to only
a
>tish sharp though!
>
>Very interesting question. Being that I am very consistent with this, I
have
>indeed wondered whether the cause went beyond my special talents. In my
case
>the sharp string is not the last one tuned as Dale spoke of. Anyone with an
>answer? How about something funny from Ron - this might be good material?
>
>Terry Farrell
>Piano Tuning & Service
>Tampa, Florida
>mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Jay Mercier" <jaymercier@hotmail.com>
>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2000 8:38 PM
>Subject: tuning question
>
>
>> List,
>>
>> I notice lately that when I perform a major pitch raise (today, it was
one
>> that was 3 whole steps flat), by the time I'm done with the fine tuning
>just
>> under 2 hours later the unisons in the mid to upper treble range go out
>just
>> a tish, and about 90% of the problem is that the bottom pin (upright) is
>> always just a tish sharp compared to the other two pins of the unison.
>> Almost always I have to go back and lower every bottom pin to match the
>> remaining two unisons.  Can this be avoided?  Any thoughts on this is
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Jay Mercier
>> New Associate Member
>> Glenwood, MN
>> _________________________________________________________________________
>> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
>>
>> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
>> http://profiles.msn.com.
>>
>
>Dale wrote:
>
>Jay,
>First, congratulations on becoming a new member! Hope to meet you in person
>in Reno at the Annual Convention.
>I have pondered this problem for some time. My mentor, Jimmy Gold, thought
>that it was because that was the last pin he tuned, it did not get settled
>as well as the other two. I have tried a variety of muting/tuning schemes
>which have led me to believe there may be some validity in his thesis. If
>this is not the last string you tune it obviously does not apply.
>I do find it harder to set the bottom pin on an upright primarily because
it
>is more difficult for me to get the short length of string between the
>tuning pin and the pressure bar to render.
>If you figure this one out, please let me know!
>Best,
>Dale
>Dale Probst, RPT
>Member, TEAM20001
>PTG Annual Convention
>Reno, NV --July 11-15, 2000
>email: wardprobst@cst.net
>(940)691-3682 voice
>(940) 691-6843 fax
>TEAM2001 website: http://www.equaltemperament.com/PTG/
>
>
>
>
>
>