[pianotech] SAT IV extended

[David Ilvedson]

It isn't so much that you want to use a narrower octave, you have no choice.   Thirds slow down way too abruptly going south of the temperment, but if you widen the octave you have beating single octaves and 4ths.   You have to bring the octave more into line...then you hit the bass section...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 12/27/2009 9:14:50 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] SAT IV extended


>When doing aural tunings on small pianos I also find that I want to use a
>narrower octave.  Typically the 4:2 style octave extends much farther down
>into the bass section whereas on other pianos I might get to a 6:3 octave
>fairly soon after leaving the temperament.  In fact, on very small spinets
>my temperament octave might be something between a 2:1 and a 4:2.  Tuning a
>sequence of contiguous thirds over two octaves (which is my aural
>temperament style) I always find that the F3A3 third is set a bit slower
>than on a larger piano in order to make the entire two octave sequence come
>together and the measured double octave sound clean or at least quiet.  When
>measured or checked it is clearly on the narrower side when compared with a
>full sized instrument.  With the SAT the measurement at F3 is really a guide
>for the bass not for the mid range so since I tend to tune those pianos with
>sharper basses (at least the high bass) a wide setting that accompanies a
>high number at F3 just doesn't work that well and you pretty much have to
>ignore it and either tune by ear or measure direct intervals (which is
>really what aural tuning is).  Otherwise, you end up with octaves that are
>simply beating way too fast and the double octaves just sound off.  In the
>low bass on a small spinet it's a best of the worst judgment call anyway and
>on a small grand I'm always trying to find something that's not
>offensive--better scaling definitely helps in that area.  The SAT also does
>offer a double octave stretch setting which allows you to simply narrow the
>entire range of the curve and pull everything in a bit tighter.  However,
>since different sections of the piano often call for different amounts of
>stretch adjustment it's an on the fly call anyway.  

>Bottom line, and I know we've been through this a thousand times on the
>list, you have to check what you do aurally no matter how sophisticated the
>machine is.  They simply can't deal with the scale variations and bumps
>reliably.  That's a bit of a digression from your question.

>David Love
>www.davidlovepianos.com


>-----Original Message-----
>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
>Of Ron Nossaman
>Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 8:56 PM
>To: pianotech at ptg.org
>Subject: Re: [pianotech] SAT IV extended

>David Love wrote:
>>Generally the smaller pianos, ironically, tune
>> narrower, not wider.  The settings, for example, on the Verituner for
>small
>> pianos will give you a tuning curve that is narrower.  

>How does this compare with aural?
>Ron N