---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Geoff. At 12:17 PM 2/8/2006, you wrote: >Greetings all -- > >I have been following the conversation on how to=20 >tune the fourth string on a Bluthner piano and=20 >what I noticed is that everybody appears to be=20 >guessing. I'm sure that is not really the case,=20 >but most of the responses sure read that way. Not from the post I sent. And I "think" several=20 others sent the the same type of post! Avery >Anyway, I decided to do a little research and=20 >wrote to Bluthner UK directly. Below is my=20 >message to them and one R D Wilson's reply. > >I recently had the opportunity to look over an=20 >older Bluthner concert grand. It had been in=20 >storage and was about to be shipped back out to=20 >the owner. In investigating the fourth string on=20 >this piano I sadly discovered that while the=20 >ones in the treble section were fine, all of=20 >them in the alto section had been deliberately=20 >damped off with stringing braid. So much for=20 >seeing how they might have been tuned. Why do you suppose this was done? > >-- Geoff Sykes >-- Assoc. Los Angeles > >=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: <mailto:thetuner@ivories52.com>Geoff Sykes >To: <mailto:info@bluthner.co.uk>info@bluthner.co.uk >Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 7:03 AM >Subject: Question on fourth string tuning > >Greetings -- > >Recently, on the Piano Technicians Guild email=20 >discussion group, there has been much talk on=20 >the correct way to tune the fourth string on=20 >Bluthner pianos. So far everybody admits to be=20 >either just guessing, or posting personal=20 >experiences that gave pleasing results to them.=20 >I thought that the best way to find the real=20 >answer would be to go to the source. Therefore I have a couple of= questions: > >1: Why was this fourth string introduced to the=20 >Bluthner piano, and what is it's purpose? > >2: What is the correct, or suggested, method of=20 >tuning that string and how does the tuning of=20 >that string relate to the three unisons below=20 >it? In other words, is it tuned beatless to the=20 >unisons below it or is it tuned to a different partial altogether? > >I look forward to your answers and hope that by=20 >adding them into the discussion we might all learn something. > >Thanks -- > >Geoff Sykes >Associate Member >Los Angeles Chapter >Piano Technicians Guild > >=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D > >Dear Mr Sykes > >Thank you for your recent email. My apologies=20 >for the delay in replying due to my absence from our offices due to= illness. > >In response to your questions, I should advise as follows: > >1. Most manufacturers have tried to create a=20 >unique feature to their instruments. Bluthner=20 >was a pioneer of thinking and development of his=20 >pianos and created the Aliquot system as a=20 >string which was affixed to certain models of=20 >grand pianos, was never struck but intended to=20 >vibrate in sympathy to surrounding notes when=20 >the damper restricting its movement was lifted. > >The new Bluthner catalogue and technical=20 >information on the web site give further details=20 >and it should be noted that an Aliquot system is=20 >fitted to all Bluthner grands above the 5' 1"/154cms model. > >The early Aliquot system was very clearly=20 >obvious, having its own bridge in the centre of=20 >the soundboard covering the alto and ending just=20 >beyond the treble bar break. An individual=20 >brass stud was fitted to the slim Aliquot bridge=20 >and a string affixed. This string was damped by=20 >a small additional damper on the side of the main damper. > >The principle is that as a piano is played, the=20 >soundboard is naturally vibrating, therefore the=20 >Aliquot bridge would be vibrating, creating=20 >vibration on the string which should enhance the sound obtained. > >As with any device, there will always be=20 >critics, but you and your technical friends in=20 >the Piano Technicians Guild will know that the=20 >Aliquot is indeed doing something as when trying=20 >to tune a Bluthner grand with the Aliquot=20 >system, clear tuning of the struck strings=20 >cannot be undertaken unless the Aliquot strings are damped. > >On new Bluthner grands there is no separate=20 >Aliquot bridge and indeed the inexperienced eye=20 >may look at a grand and consider no Aliquot is=20 >fitted. This, as previously stated, is incorrect=20 >and the treble bridge beyond the treble break in=20 >the grand has four strings, all using the main=20 >bridge, but the fourth string being slightly=20 >higher and not actually hit by the hammer. > >2. Tuning. > >Where the Aliquot strings have their own=20 >individual bridge, the strings should be tuned=20 >an octave above the unison. Where the Aliquot=20 >bridge ceases and Aliquot studs are fitted to=20 >the main treble bridge, they should be tuned in=20 >unison or generally slightly sharp to unison. > >As a practicing tuner/technician for some=20 >thirty-five/forty years and working extensively=20 >on Bluthners, I personally found that the=20 >simplest way to tune these was to initially lay=20 >a piece of listing felt over the Aliquot strings=20 >and tune the piano in the normal way,=20 >subsequently returning and playing the note an=20 >octave above the Aliquot string that was to be=20 >tuned, plucking the Aliquot string and tuning to=20 >the note struck an octave above. > >Obviously when moving to the treble section=20 >where the strings are tuned in unison or just=20 >over unison, then the simplest method is to=20 >either pluck the trichord and the Aliquot string=20 >or play the trichord and pluck the string, tuning to unison or just over. > >It is easy to talk about these things, but upon=20 >re-reading this email, I wonder if I have been=20 >clear or not, but hope this is helpful to you=20 >and any of your colleagues. Could I say that if=20 >any of you should be in the West End of London,=20 >we would be delighted to see you at the new=20 >Bluthner showrooms at the address below. > >With best wishes to you all. > >Yours sincerely >R D Willson > > >--------------------------------------------- >Bl=FCthner Piano Centre Ltd. >1 Davies Street >Berkeley Square >Mayfair >LONDON W1K 3DB >Tel. 020 7753 0533 >Fax. 020 7753 0535 >Email: <mailto:info@bluthners.co.uk>info@bluthners.co.uk >Website: <http://www.bluthners.co.uk/>www.bluthners.co.uk ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/62/d3/ea/fb/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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