Pitch Raising Techniques

[Farrell]

Ed Foote wrote:
"Usually I don't see more than 15% of the strings as  freebies, though."

Well Ed, I guess you and me are just using the wrong tools. If we used RCT,
we could "tune 99.99% of the time in one pass to A440" - apparently even
from a half-step flat.

How 'bout them cow pies?

Terry Farrell



> Duaine wrote:

> That even sounds more archaic O:-)

> I just let Cybertuner do the "thinking" (overpull calculation) and can
tune 99.99% of the time in one pass to > A440 :-)


> , Richard writes:
>
> << btw... my recent experiences in Japan has led me to conclude that the
>
> one hour wonder pitch raise and "fine tuning" is a suspect concept at
>
> best. :) >>
>
> Hmm,  I dunno.  There is no right or wrong way to fine tune a piano, at
> pitch, that is say 15 cents flat in places.  There are, however, many of
us that
> have found ways that work, for us.  Here's mine.
>    If the piano is more than 4 cents off standard, and I have to meet
> broadcast quality,(which is mainly the unisons and octaves),  I invest the
first 15
> minutes,(12 if I really have to meet a deadline), in getting the piano
within 4
> cents of 440.  This is most easily done by using the standard SAT
calculator.
>  HOwever, I take my readings from 7 notes or so, ABOVE where I am tuning.
>   The reason for this is that seldom do I find a piano that is the same
> amount flat across the whole keyboard, and since the drop is due to
continually
> adding tension above, I want to stop overpulling so much before I get to
the
> section that is not so flat.
>    There is a simple hammer technique that leaves string/pins very stable.
It
> is just not very accurate in placing the pitch. I pull the pin well sharp,
> enough so that I will be certainly moving the pin as I then drop it flat.
I go
> until the pitch is just a little flat, relax the hammer, and give a very
slight
> sharpening flex to the pin. These amounts depend on how tight the block
is,
> and how much friction there is in the upper bearing points.
> This technique is a little sloppy on pitch placement, but leaves a string
> that will not move under any blow that I hit it with.
>     On the second pass, if by chance a string is exactly where it should
be,
> I simply wiggle the pin with the hammer to assure myself that it isn't
poised
> on the edge of balance, and if the note doesn't change, that is a freebie.
>     I have had the SAT III leave a piano within 2 cents of 440 after a  15
> minute, 20 cent pitch raise doing this, and after that, it is not
difficult to
> fine tune it in an hour.  There are exceptions, of course, but I don't see
many
> problems getting the major work done in a flash, then taking whatever time
I
> like to fine tune.  Usually I don't see more than 15% of the strings as
> freebies, though.
> Regards,
>
> Ed Foote RPT