[pianotech] RPT Credibility and "Status"

[Paul T Williams]

Hi Al and Ron,

I, too have only tuned aurally now for 16 years.  My mentor, Steve Brady, 
would only teach that way.  I can't for the life of me understand why 
anyone could possibly tune with an ETD without knowing/hearing the basics! 
  I still only tune aurally, and when my ears get a little tired in a few 
years, will consider using an ETD.  Many customers were very impressed 
when I started tuning their pianos just using my A-440 fork....and several 
would specifically ask for this process, not trusting an ETD..(wondering 
why Duaine never has a customer ask about it.  I guess he doesn't concert 
tune much!)  They would ask, "Don't you use one of those 'machines'?"  I 
simply told them that all they do is speed up the process and technicians 
still need to hear the very fine points of tuning that a 'machine' can't 
do!  I hesitated to respond to this blog, and sometimes my blood pressure 
would rise, but then let the water slide off my back like a duck.  For RPT 
status, NEVER stoop so low as to not let prospective RPT's only tune with 
an ETD.  It not only lowers the expectations of what a really crafted 
technician is, but lowers the standards of the PTG as a whole.   There.. 
I've said my peace.  Let's let this dog sleep!

Merry Christmas to y'all.

We're in for another ice/snow storm tonight and I am supposed to drive out 
90 miles to tune 2 Bluthners tomorrow! Wish me luck!!!

Paul T. Williams RPT
Piano Technician
School of Music
5 Westbrook Bldg.
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, NE 68588-0100
pwilliams4 at unl.edu





Ron Overs <sec at overspianos.com.au> 
Sent by: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
12/18/2008 03:00 PM
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Re: [pianotech] RPT Credibility and "Status"






Al,

Exactly. I have only ever tuned aurally, and it came to me some years 
ago as a surprise that there were techs who were doing fine work 
using an ETD. I questioned Richard Davenport about this when I first 
met him in 2001 and he said, "If you can't tune a piano without an 
ETD, you won't be able to tune with one". The ETD is just another 
tool. The executive decision must still be made by the ears and not 
the eyes.

Ron O.

>I have been following this conversation and have not gotten 
>involved, but now I will. I started tuning aurally in 1964. About 3 
>1/2 years ago I decided to try the cyber tuner. I wouldn't give it 
>up for the world. It's a great tool, but for the life of me, I don't 
>know how anyone can do a really good tuning without using their ears 
>along with it. In my opinion, ETD's can't do the job consistently 
>without aural tuning skills.
>
>my 2 cents
>
>Al G


-- 
OVERS PIANOS - SYDNEY
    Grand Piano Manufacturers
_______________________

Web http://overspianos.com.au
mailto:ron at overspianos.com.au
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