Pitch Raise Sequence

[Farrell]

Oops, no, I never pitch raise tenor bass strings, my expressed concern was
regarding tenDer bass strings.

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2000 8:56 AM
Subject: Pitch Raise Sequence


> I have wondered repeatedly why I don't start a pitch raise at C88 rather
> than A0 (everytime I answer "great idea, try it next time - I never have).
I
> use a SAT III and rubber/felt mutes for pitch raises. Most pianos that
need
> a pitch raise are flattest in the top couple octaves. The top couple
octaves
> is where the risk of string breakage is greatest. Also, when one is
raising
> pitch, the tension of the remaining strings drop an additional amount
before
> you even get to them (my experience is that if the hi treble is 50 cents
> flat before starting a pitch raise, by the time you get to it after
raising
> the bass and tenor, the hi treble will be perhaps 80 cents flat) thereby
> increasing the risk of string breakage.
>
> Take the common situation where the bass is say 20 cents flat, tenor 30
> cents flat, treble 40 cents flat, and hi-treble 50 cents flat. Start
raising
> pitch in the hi-treble and progress toward the bass. Would I not find
> advantage in giving the piano a more even pitch raise (rather than raising
> pitch 20 to 80 cents (bass to treble), I would be raising pitch perhaps 50
> to 30 cents (treble to bass). Just plain old happier for the piano
overall,
> and much less chance of strings breaking.
>
> One of the advantages this may offer is when pitch raising on an old risky
> piano. I hate the thought of raising pitch on bass and tenor, just to get
to
> the treble and find that strings are breaking right and left. If strings
are
> going to not be able to take A440, you will find out right away if you
start
> at C88 (of course then you are faced with the occassional problem of tener
> bass strings! - although in my experience that is less common).
>
> So now you ask why do I not try it and report back. I will. But before I
do,
> does anyone think this idea has any merit? Has anyone else tried it or do
> this regularly?
>
> Terry Farrell
> Piano Tuning & Service
> Tampa, Florida
> mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
>