> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Terry, I usually try to let the bass section be the final determining factor. I wouldn't want to raise the bass to +24 if it is at +10. I would make two passes and leave the entire piano at +10. As a beginner some 25 years ago, another tuner told me to let the tenor section determine the pitch of the piano. After three strings broke in the bass on a cheap spinet, I soon discounted his advice as faulty. If the bass is already +10, I wouldn't raise it any more. Conversely, here in mid winter, I would likely find the same piano with the bass at -10 or more. At that time, I would float the entire piano to -10 knowing that in six months it would be above. Once again, I let the section of the piano that moves the least determine the floating pitch. -- Ray T. Bentley, RPT Alton, IL ray@bentley.net www.ray.bentley.net T ogether E veryone A chieves M ore From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com> Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 07:42:15 -0400 To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Subject: Re: Stupefying Pitch Volatility I'm just curious what others do in these situations - not so much from a business standpoint, but rather from a technical standpoint. You had at least one note at +41 cents, and you ended up with the whole piano at about +24 cents. I take it the +24 cents level was close to an average deviation from standard pitch - so as to make your pitch adjustments minimal? Let's assume here your situation was what we all commonly run into: bass was about +10 cents, tenor about +41 cents, treble around +30 cents, and high treble somewhere in the +15 cents neighborhood. I would take a piano like that and shoot for a final pitch of +24 cents. You did two passes. Did you calculate/estimate pitch offsets during your first pass targeting a final pitch of +24 cents? And then was your last pass started with everything no more than 2 cents sharp or flat? Or how did/would you go about it? I find that often these irregular pitch deviations can be quite challenging to hit your target pitch accurately. Terry Farrell ----- Original Message ----- From: Billbrpt@AOL.COM To: pianotech@ptg.org Sent: Friday, September 28, 2001 5:55 AM Subject: Re: Stupefying Pitch Volatility List, More of the same: Today I tuned an 1899 Shiller upright, all original, even the bridal straps but in good shape. It was a 3/4 plate, open faced pinblock design. It is a *fixture* in this old house on the *organic, whole earth* side of town where there is no air conditioning and only a few blocks from the lake. Air conditioning or not, this is the time of year where temperatures are moderate, there is lots of rain and windows are open all day and left slightly open at night. When the temperature goes down at night, the air quickly reaches its dewpoint. Areas of fog (100% humidity) are common. This is unfortunate because people want to use their pianos and want them tuned but it will only be a matter of weeks until sharply colder weather comes on, the heat goes on and 60% indoor humidity plummits to 30%. With an admirable record of service, the old Shiller upright's A4 stood on September 27th at +41 cents. I mercifully evened out the pitch in a 2 pass tuning at +24 cents. No, I didn't *fully inform* the customers who asked me to leave the bill, they were going for a bicycle ride around the lake. I left the bill which charged for "Piano Tuning", my usual, going rate which is the highest in the area. I didn't look to see if the plate was cracked although I didn't see any cracks in the plate when I adjusted the damper pedal. Bill Bremmer RPT Madison, Wisconsin ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/d7/2f/75/fb/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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