Dopey Tuning

[Clyde Hollinger]

Terry,

My opinion is that doped pinblocks going out of tune in a short period of time
is a possibility, not necessarily the general rule.  Maybe it depends on what
kind of dope was used or how badly shot the pinblock was before the doping.

I have more of a problem with the stuff not really doing the job anymore (maybe
it never really did!), and the pins sometimes don't have enough torque to stay
in pitch.  Like you, I also hate that mushy feel you get sometimes.

Regards,
Clyde

Farrell wrote:

> Well, last night I tuned my first (for sure) pin block doped piano. 1926
> Cable upright - much better than average condition - grandmother bought it
> new. Bass restrung about 15 years ago. The tuning pin collars were black,
> and some dark tarry-looking goop was on plate in tuning pin area (likely
> doped at time of bass restring). And EVERY pin was REAL MUSHY! A bit hard to
> tune - seemed like you needed a new hammer technique. It felt like someone
> put a thin collar of neoprene around each tuning pin. Torque was typically
> pretty low, likely ranged from 20 to 50 inch-pounds (estimate). It just felt
> like notes were going to start creeping flat as I was driving home from the
> job. Is this a problem with doped pinblocks - creeping flat in short periods
> of time?
>
> Terry Farrell
> Piano Tuning & Service
> Tampa, Florida
> mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com