My previous post about temperaments was supposed to go to the pipe organ list which is currently having a aural tuning is best discussion. Sorry, 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: "Pianoman" <pianoman at accessus.net> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 9:32 AM Subject: [pianotech] Fw: Temperaments > > 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 . >>> :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: >>> >> > > > >
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC