[pianotech] 6 strings versus 200 + strings

[johnparham at piano88.com]

If the guitar had a high action, you have to tune it so the chords you
are going to play sound the best.  You tuned it and played certain
chords.  The owner may have been used to playing in a certain key that
required a different tuning.

A guitar with a lower action, straight frets, a straight neck, and frets
that are not worn will tune up true.

I've been a guitar player for 38 years, and these variables not only
drive me batty, they have made me appreciate my 1960 Gibson J50 even
more so.

Still... Martins are a joy to play.

Thanks, Ed, for your tuning comments!

-John Parham
Hickory, NC

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [pianotech] 6 strings versus 200 + strings
> From: "Mr. Mac's" <tune-repair at allegiance.tv>
> Date: Mon, January 31, 2011 9:36 am
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> 
> 
> List,
> 
> Something happened many years ago (late 1900s') that startled me.
> 
> During a seminar a colleague and I took a break,
>    whereupon he shared with me his Martin guitar
>    in his hotel room.
> 
> Customarily, when someone pulls a guitar out of a case
>    and hands it to me, my first instinct is to check the tuning.
> So, I did that, and decided some changes needed to be made.
> 
> Pause:
> As an aside, the few Martin guitars I have experienced have had
>    high actions (strings very far up from the fretboard), hence
>    making it extremely difficult to satisfy any efforts on my part
>    to produce a harmonious tuning to my ears.
> 
> Unpause:
> So, after fooling around, I did the best I could do, played a few chords,
>    decided the high action was killing my fingers, and
>    handed that guitar back to the owner and acknowledged
>    the best compliment I could muster to the owner.
> 
> Want to guess what the first thing that happened after that?
> He retuned what I had just tuned. Holy Mackerel!
> 
> Here two so-called RPTs' had completely different ideas
>   as to what sounded correct with this 6-string Martin guitar.
> 
> Imagine, if you will, what is going on
>    when discussion takes place regarding a piano tuning,
>    the methodology used and each individual's perceptions.
> 
> Excuse me, but Holy Mackerel, again!
> 
> These are some early Monday morning thoughts following
>    last week's intensive discussions.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Keith McGavern, RPT
> pianostuff.kamcam.com