[pianotech] ETD tuning during temperature changes (private)

[David Lawson]

I have just read David's comments on ETD tuning as compared to aural tuning. 
As I am an aural tuner, with absolutely no ETD experience, I find all his 
comments interesting. Indeed I can tune a quality tune in similar time to 
David. Pitch raises may not be as quick as with the machine, however, I 
accomplish them in good time and in most cases quite accurately ready for 
the fine tune.
I am contracted to a few major institutions who demand that their tuners do 
not use EDT's. They prefer the traditional method, as it, in their opinion, 
indicates an impression of a 'proper craftsman'.
My concern with their use, in the eyes of the public and the lay person, is 
that if it is fine to use ETD's, then perhaps the piano is slowly becoming 
out dated by the introduction of the digital instrument. (I refuse to call 
them pianos). More and more people are purchasing digitals, particularly as 
an introduction to music for their children. Is their use and popularity 
going to mean the demise of the family piano? The use of EDT's may 
psychologically suggest, that if their use is good enough for the tuner to 
use, then perhaps digitals are as good, or a better option than a piano.
This electronic age controls our lives, and what a pity it would be if 
traditional ways were gradually eroded away. Something to think about?
David Lawson OZ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mr. Mac's" <tune-repair at allegiance.tv>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 8:26 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] ETD tuning during temperature changes (private)


Hi David,

I feel you should know that Daniel Carlton wrote what you quoted
   and not Ryan Sowers. Felt you would appreciate this input.

Aside from that, the information you have been offering on this ETD offering 
has been spot on
   from my point of view.

Sincerely,

Keith McGavern

On Jan 27, 2011, at 2:35 PM, David Love wrote:

> Ryan Sowers wrote:
>
> "how is the next generation of tuners going to find the inspiration to 
> pick
> up this important skill which is at the heart of our craft?"
>
>
> I think this is a bit of the fallacy of the appeal to belief.  The
> suggestion is that etd users don't acquire the important skills that are 
> at
> the heart of the craft.  That's just a wrong assumption.  First, most (if
> not all) etd users tune unisons by ear.  The essential skills required for
> our tuning craft can all be found in acquiring the skill of tuning solid
> unisons.  The issue of tuning has less to do with our ability to hear what
> our target is and more to do with learning how to get it there and keep it
> there.  Those of us who pursue this profession tend to be inclined toward
> good hearing skills.  Learning to hear coincident partials, a narrow 
> fifth,
> an expanded fourth, 7 beats per second, a sequence if increasingly beating
> thirds, clean unisons is a small part of the battle, in my view.  Learning
> to manipulate the tuning pin and tuning hammer in a controlled way is what
> takes the effort.  If we could simply turn a dial and stop it when the
> desired pitch is reached tuning would be relatively easy.  When you stick 
> a
> lever and flexible pin in the way it changes everything.   The notion that
> etd users shut their ears once the machine gets turned on is also a false
> belief.  Similarly that they don't tweak the machine settings and refine 
> the
> calculated tuning based on their own  professional judgment.  Any 
> suggestion
> otherwise is more a comment on one's own practices than it is a fair 
> comment
> on anyone else's.
>
> But there's another issue here that we've not really discussed and that 
> has
> to do with compensation and fees.  When I tuned aurally (and I consider
> myself a very skilled tuner) it took me about 1 hour and 20 minutes to do 
> a
> careful tuning.  Add a pitch raise and it was two hours if I got the pitch
> raise right the first time, which wasn't always the case.  That seems to
> comport with David Andersen's own admissions, somebody I consider a very
> skilled aural tuner.  With an ETD I can do that same careful tuning in 45
> minutes.  A pitch raise (and an accurate one) in 15 minutes.  That's half
> the time.  My basic fee (and I won't say what it is here but you can look 
> on
> my website) is based on a 1+  hour appointment.  My customers get what I 
> can
> accomplish in that time for my basic fee.  So, if the piano is on pitch 
> it's
> 45 minutes to tune it and 15+ minutes to do whatever else.  That whatever
> else might be a pitch raise in which case I'm done in my basic fee time 
> and
> they pay me my basic fee.  If there's no pitch raise I'll spend the extra
> time doing what I see fit and that will vary depending on need.  The use 
> of
> the etd allows me to be consistently efficient and deliver a better 
> product
> in a shorter time frame.  So what do I do?  I can decide that I really 
> enjoy
> the challenge and personal satisfaction of tuning aurally but it takes me
> twice as long and I accomplish less in a given amount of time as far as 
> the
> customer is concerned.  Should I then charge double to my customers so 
> that
> I can have my personal satisfaction?  Or should I work that extra time for
> free?  No difference in the quality of the product, mind you.  Just an 
> issue
> of what gives me more pleasure, how much time it takes, and what I then 
> need
> to charge for my time.  What do you imagine my customers would say?  Don't
> wonder too long, I can tell you.  Do they really care how I do it or do 
> they
> care that I'm efficient, get done what needs doing and deliver a quality
> product for a predictable fee?
>
> That's where my hobbyist remark comes from. If I'm doing this for fun (and
> that doesn't mean without a high level of skill) then who cares.  But if 
> I'm
> doing this to make a living, maximize my earning potential and want to
> deliver a quality product to my customer in the most efficient, consistent
> and professional way that doesn't cause them to have to pay additional and
> unnecessary charges because I choose to take twice as long when I didn't
> really have to, then what is the responsible and, perhaps, most ethical 
> way
> to think of this?  Is refusing to use the most modern technologies 
> available
> because of some false belief, personal pride or pleasure mentality not
> potentially doing our customers a disservice?    I think it is.
>
> David Love
> www.davidlovepianos.com
>
>
>
>