James Grebe Since 1962 Piano Tuning & Repair Creator of Handsome Hardwood Products( 314) 608-4137 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010 Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE! www.grebepiano.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pianoman" <pianoman at accessus.net> To: "Michael Johnston" <michael at MICHAELSMUSICSERVICE.COM> Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 9:31 AM Subject: Re: Temperaments > Speaking as a piano tuner as my profession, 46 years and counting: I > tuned the first 18 years of my career (1962 to 1980) aurally. The > electronic and then later, computer devices, came into being, each being > more mathematically correct as time went on. These are devices are made > solely for the purpose of tuning pianos and have an accuracy of 0.05 > cents. They have the ability to measure and set up to the 8th partial. > The one I have been using for the past 20 years is the Sanderson Acc-Tuner > III. I have found, in my experience, that a person may be able to do a > extremely accurate piano tuning aurally if you have an unusually long > period of time at a instrument that is stable in pitch to begin with. My > emphasis is on the word "may". With the device, it is possible to do a > very good job with a tuning on 99.9% of all the pianos out there. In many > cases you can do a better job because the tuning will be more uniform > across the board rather than changing parameters in different places in > the registers due to changing inharmonicity. There is NO perfect piano > that behaves in a theoretically perfect manner and whatever way we tune > the piano it is a compromise somewhere. Indeed, the whole tuning is a > compromise. I tune instruments ranging from 9' concert grands to lowly > cheap spinets and I have the ability to tune aurally or with the computer > either way and adjust the tuning to favor aurally or by computer. I have > come to the conclusion that the method I prefer is with the computer > tuning device that I use. I have also used another competing device > (Reyburn Cyber-Tuner) and though the final tuning is not the same as with > the Accu-Tuner, or aurally, it is just as correct as the other two > methods. Bottom line is the device is just a device and it is the person > who uses it that determines whether the tuning is a success or not. At > the same time the machines have a memory so a tuning for a particular > piano can be stored and you can duplicate the tuning time after time on > that particular piano. By the way the machines also have built in choice > of other temperaments so they are useful in that area as well. If a > person has all the time in the world you can do a wonderful piano tuning > aurally, if you have a good piano. On the same token you can do a > wonderful job on a good piano with the accurate device and a person who is > well skilled in using it in a much shorter period of time. > Just my humble opinion. > James > James Grebe > Since 1962 > Piano Tuning & Repair > Creator of Handsome Hardwood Products( > 314) 608-4137 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010 > Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History > BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE! > www.grebepiano.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Michael Johnston" <michael at MICHAELSMUSICSERVICE.COM> > To: <PIPORG-L at listserv.albany.edu> > Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 6:26 PM > Subject: Re: Temperaments > > >>> The first time I encountered a tuner who used an electrobox. >> >> I know several organ builders and organ techs who provide maintainance. I >> studied piano tuning with three old men, long since dead. Not one of them >> used an electric device. Most started with a tuning fork and went from >> there. >> >> I know that I'm not good at it. After one octave, my brains are mush and >> I'm ready for martinis. I have spent hours watching tuners at work and >> marveled at their ability and tolerance. I've seen big high pressure >> reeds being tuned where the tuner wore ear protection. I've seen Dennis >> McGurk work on the ACCH organ. I've seen the subtle tuning of the W-S >> Tannenberg [subtle quiet tracker]. Not one of them has used an electronic >> device except as a starting point, and most start with a fork. >> >> Are there those who use the electronic box to match pitch to every single >> pipe? That would be surprising to me because wouldn't it take a whole lot >> more time? I was taught beat counting, and wouldn't that obviate this >> entirely? >> >> Cheers! >> Michael >> -- >> MICHAEL'S MUSIC SERVICE 4146 Sheridan Dr, Charlotte, NC 28205 >> 704-567-1066 ** Please call or email us for your organ needs ** >> http://michaelsmusicservice.com "Organ Music Is Our Specialty" >> >> :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: >> Note: opinions expressed on PIPORG-L are those of the individual con- >> tributors and not necessarily those of the list owners nor of the Uni- >> versity at Albany. For a brief summary of list commands, send mail to >> listserv at listserv.albany.edu saying GET LSVCMMDS.TXT or see the web >> page at http://www.albany.edu/piporg-l/lsvcmmds.html . >> :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: >> >
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