Accordion Tuning/not funny

[sid blum]

Thanks for the reply, Carl.

Sorry for bad choice of words in the subject line, didn't mean to offend.

It is my own accordion that needs tuning, and I have several clunkers also
that I can practice on.  One thing I have been trying to figure out is how
wide a spread there should be between the three unison reed sets.  Assuming
one reed at A 440, one at A 441 and one at A 439, would you be shooting for
clean octaves within each set of reeds so that the tremolo an octave above
beats at twice the speed?

thanks,

sid
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Teplitski" <koko99@mb.sympatico.ca>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 12:54 PM
Subject: Re: Comic Relief...... /Accordion Tuning/not funny


> Have tuned hundreds of accordions. If you have never seen one done, I
would
> make sure your customer is prepared to possibly have his acc. ruined, or
at
> least away for quite a long time. Apart from the fact that you must learn
how
> to file each reed in and out of the reed well to make it go sharp or
flatter,
> you
> must be very careful not to ruin the leathers associated with each one.
They
> have a large effect on reed pitch and reed response. My suggestion would
be
> that if you have never seen one done, don't !!! It is much more difficult
than
> a
> musician tuning his own piano if he has no experience in doing same. One
of
> the most difficult things to do is, tune the inside reed tongue. This reed
> tongue
> plays when the bellows are pulled out. The reed which can be seen, plays
when
> you push the bellows to closed position. You must also not touch the reed
> tongue
> with your fingers as they will rust. I have seen an example when someone
who
> tried to
> do something to their own acc., and handled the reed blocks with their
hands
> leave
> their finger prints on each reed in rust. This of course changes the
weight of
> the reed
> putting it out of tune, as when you file a reed , you are changing it's
> vibrating speed
> by making it heavier or lighter.  Nuff said ???
> You didn't mention whether this was a decent instrument. Or if it is
yours?
> If you decide to go ahead, you must acquire some fine files. ( jewelers )
> An ETD would be nice. Tune centre octave with ETD, and tune rest aurally.
> Write me off list if you are serious about attempting this, because I
would
> really try to dissuade you .
>
> Carl
>
>
>
>
>
> sid blum wrote:
>
> > Pianotech Listers,
> >
> > I'm thinking this question was best addressed off-list, but this group
is
> > such an amazing resource, I couldn't resist asking for your help.
> >
> > I am about to make my first attempt at accordion tuning.  If anyone has
any
> > wisdom they are interested in sharing, or sources for information, I
would
> > be most grateful.
> >
> > thanks,
> >
> > sid blum
> > sid@sover.net
>