This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Hi Alan, I think I have the Schaff 204 mute that you mentioned, but I have a = question about it. The mute is a split rubber mute, but one part seems = a bit thicker than the other. For whatever reason, perhaps lack of = practice and patience with it, I have trouble use it to mute in the = trebble. The handle gets in the way of the hammer typically, but I'm = with you. I hate strip muting the trebble. I don't even waste my time = with the bass. I use a stick mute and mute off the right string of one = and go down to the next right string, then when Im finished the bass, I = go back and do the left strings. =20 You mentioned making intervals sound good. I find that when tuning the = bass, if I tune the tinny sounds out of fifths and fourths, Im usually = right in where the note should be. =20 I'm new at this too, and I agree, join the PTG. It's like being part of = a family of other tuners. So, Alan, if you have any ideas for any for = anyone who is sight impaired on how to use that blue steeled mute you = mentioned, please let us know. =20 I found that one way to know if the tuning is good on a spinit is when = the customer comments that it sounds louder when I'm finished. =20 Have a good one. Marshall ps. I'm now an associate member of the PTG. I cannot wait to get my = materials in the mail. ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Alan Barnard=20 To: Pianotech List=20 Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 2:20 PM Subject: Thoughts for Newbies was RE: Spinet Some thoughts. If pins don't hold, Stop. You cannot tune that piano unless and until = you deal with that problem. As to muting strings, I strongly recommend that you order a Treble = Mute (Schaff p33 item 204). It is misnamed: You can use it on all = trichord unisons.=20 Place it as shown in the attached photo and tune the center string. = Then move it one unison to the right and tune the left string of the = unison you just worked on and the center string of the new one. Then = shift it again, tune the right string of the first unison, the left = string of the second, and the center of the newest one. Etcetera. Works = like a charm in many situations. I like to use it in all uprights for = the trebles that still have dampers, for example, because I don't like = stripping behind dampers. If you are tuning aurally (the hard road to making money but a great = road to really learn tuning--if you persevere) then you can use the mute = instead of stripping and tune the whole unison of each note as you go. = This will FORCE you to develop good hammer technique, good unison = tuning, and an accurate ear for intervals. You should be able to strip mute all or most of that spinet but you = will have to place the strip then carefully slide it down on the strings = until it is well below the strike point.=20 If the block is weak, as you seem to have found, it is likely that the = instrument is rather old or ill-used and the dull thuddiness of the bass = strings is due to dirt, corrosion, and general aging. You can try tuning = each bass single or bichord unison, one at a time, down until it is = pretty floppy than wanging HARD on the key to break up the crud. Then = carefully bring them back to pitch Sometimes it does no discernible = good, but sometimes it makes a dramatic difference. Some old spinets (a P.A. Stark I knew all-too-well comes to mind) will = sound pukey no matter how well tuned it is. BUT at this stage, you = shouldn't just assume that an instrument you are facing is one of those. = You must work hard and long to make it sound the best it can.=20 Set a temperament that has three things for sure: Clean octaves, = almost-pure but narrow fifths with acceptable fourths, and evenly = progressing major thirds. Then, going down, you should tune by = octaves--gradually changing from 4:2 to 6:3 by C3 or so--but tweak those = octaves based on the same criteria as the temperament. In other words, = extend the temperament across the bass/tenor break. Going up out of the temperament, clean octaves, clean (almost pure) = fifths, and evenly progressing 3rds (or tenths, seventeenths, etc.) = still rule but your octaves should begin to narrow slightly in the fifth = octave, tending toward slightly stretched 2:1 octaves and nearly pure = 4:1 double octaves. You must learn the M10-M17 and M3-M17 tests. Also, = you can usually hear the 4:1 by holding down the lower note, say D4, = without sounding it, then strike and hold the double octave, D6 in this = case, and listen for any beats in the ghost. In a similar vain: As a new tuner you must not quickly assume that = every hard-to-tune unison is a result of false beats (wild strings). = Almost any unison can be made acceptable, if not good, with careful = tweaking and solid pin/string settling. In other words, don't give up = too easily here, either. All this makes early tuning a laborious, time-consuming, and sometimes = frustrating experience. But if you will read articles and books and = list-posts on what you are doing, and concentrate, study, and THINK = about what you are feeling and hearing, you will learn and will be a = better tuner--and ultimately faster and better able to handle the = ugliest pianos--than the guy who starts out just getting by and never = really gets past that stage. Join PTG, attend meetings, go to conferences and conventions. Alan Barnard Salem, Missouri ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Anson Kao=20 To: pianotech@ptg.org Sent: 02/23/2006 11:46:43 AM=20 Subject: Spinet Hello everyone; I am just starting out with tuning. I did my first Spinet last = night and it was terrible! I see why they say expensive grands are = easier to tune. The bass was in drastic condition and some of the = strings had a dull sound that I couldn't identify. Some of the notes = couldn't hold the tuning, once I tuned it the pin would just slip back = on its own. Another problem I had was I couldn't figure out how to mute = the outside strings for the treble--there was no space for a temperament = strip and I couldn't figure out a good way to do it. Thankfully it was = just a friend's piano I was doing as a favour, and I got away with a = rough tuning. Anyhow, for any of you who have dealt with these problems = before, any advice? =20 Thanks Anson -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- _______________________________________________ Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/ba/28/b7/34/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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