String rollers

Farrell mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
Thu, 4 Oct 2001 19:14:37 -0400


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Cool. Thanks for the definition. That's what I was looking for.

Terry Farrell =20
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Tom Servinsky=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2001 6:00 PM
  Subject: Re: String rollers


  Hey Terry,
  Chip tuning is a factory term used to describe the tuning done without =
the action being available. The stringer would "chip" or pluck the =
string and start the initial tunings. Those tunings are extremely rough =
as they really are not meant to be harmonious as they are a means of =
getting tension onto the piano.
  Then the strings are seated around the termination and bearing points =
and eventually the action is added.  Then the musical part of tuning =
begins to take shape.
  Tom Servinsky,RPT
  ----- Original Message -----=20
    From: Wimblees@AOL.COM=20
    To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
    Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2001 1:28 PM
    Subject: Re: String rollers


    In a message dated 10/4/01 11:31:47 AM Central Daylight Time, =
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes:=20



      Just what the heck is chipping? Rough tuning while plucking? Is =
there=20
      something inherently different about bringing a freshly strung =
piano up to=20
      pitch and in rough tune than doing a several-step pitch-raise? =
What is the=20
      difference between chipping a piano up to pitch and raising the =
pitch of an=20
      old upright that is 5 whole steps below standard pitch????=20

      Terry Farrell=20




    Chipping is the process of rough tuning the piano the first time =
right after it has been strung. The advantage of chipping is that it can =
be done without the dampers installed. Yes, you can tune a piano without =
the dampers, but it would be very difficult to do.=20

    Although I stretch the strings before chipping, I also chip the =
piano a half step high. My method of chipping is as follows. I find what =
note is the first in the treble section. I then find an in tune piano, =
and play a note half a step above it. In other words if the first note =
in the treble is a b2, I play a c3 on an in tune piano. I then chip tune =
a major scale on the left string. I will continue to tune the major =
scale all the way up to the top note. I then go back and chip the next =
string, c#3, and start a major scale from that note. Obviously, when I =
get to the third note of the C# scale, it is already in tune from the c =
scale I just did. This is sort of a check for me. I will continue this =
all the way up. After all the left strings have been tuned, I will tune =
the right string of each note, starting at c3. I then tune one string of =
the bass section, to even out the tension on the plate. That is followed =
by tuning the middle string of the treble, and I end up tuning t! he =
left over bass strings of the bichords.=20

    Under normal circumstances, by the time I install the action, (after =
the dampers have been hung), which is usually about a day or two later, =
the piano will have dropped about 150 - 175 cents, to about 50 - 75 =
cents below "pitch." Most of that drop I attribute to down bearing =
pressure on the board. The rest on the strings stretching. So I do a =
"Normal" pitch raise. (off setting the SAT 25 cents high), followed =
immediately by second tuning 10 cents high. Then over the next 2 weeks, =
the piano will get tuned 4 more times, with enough time in between =
tunings to let the strings settle some more.  But each time I will tune =
the piano 5 cents high. Just before the piano goes out the door, I will =
give it one more tuning at pitch, and tune the piano 2 weeks later in =
the customers home. Most of those tunings will require a 10 cent or less =
pitch raise.=20

    With this procedure, I have found that most pianos will stabilize =
after a year, which includes 4 tunings.=20

    Willem=20

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