Blind Pitch Raises

[J Patrick Draine]

Can it be done? Sure, if you went on a factory tour in the late 70s
there would be a half dozen chippers pulling just strung backs up to
pitch, and several more factory floor tunings. Working for piecework,
they were very very fast, many of them blind. Not many of us get (or
got) that kind of training (or working conditions).
So in the "real world" I use muting strips and mutes, and almost
always do "two full tunings" (with appropriate overpull in the first
run through) in one appointment. No need to be frenetic, unless that's
your preference.
On the other hand, if you've got a warehouse full of incredibly flat
pianos to pull up, go ahead and practice for the speed drills!
Patrick Draine


On 6/29/07, mps at usol.com <mps at usol.com> wrote:
> It is a mystery to me how some of us techs can do a blind PR without
> mutes (and in just several minutes). It is quite apparent when raising
> one string of a 3 string unison, the other two will sound in addition to
> the one being raised. This can confuse me and I am usually off when I
> end this technique. I end up doing almost two full tunings because I
> can't seem to get this down with any speed.
> Does anyone have suggestions to assist in this problem?
> I've been running into quite a few 100-120 cents flat pianos as of late
> and as you know, time is money.
>
> Thank you
> Mark
>
>
> Mark's Piano Service
> Freeland, MI
> mps at usol.com
>
>