Accordion Tuning/not funny

[Carl Teplitski]

No offence felt.  If you want to know more about tuning offset for
mussette, check the internet, re. accordion service. Several websites
will give you correct tunings. My personal success comes when I
tune the Clarinet (mid ) reed to A440, then tune one mid. reed flat aurally,
obviously listening for the best vibrato. Then tune the the other  mid.
reed sharp, listening again for the best vibrato. When all 3 reeds are played
together, you will have the result you probably want. Not the same thru.
whole keyb. If you were to tune same offset thru - out keyb., it would sound
terrible at both ends of keyb. Many different countries use a faster or slower
vibrato. Mexican is one of the fastest at about 20 cents sharp. French- canadian
was about 7 cents sharp. I do mine the way I like it, and have had
no complaints, thus far.
Good luck.

Carl

sid blum wrote:

> 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
> >