<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Alan,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>I had a similar experience with a Gulbransen console without the ear phones. ;)  I also tuned a Henry Miller Spinet that a friend bought from a thrift store.  I wish he spent the $150.00, it was half price day, on me.  My most stable, a Baldwin and Boston grand.  What exactly other than size of the piano makes some sound so horrible?  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Marshall</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=tune4u@earthlink.net href="mailto:tune4u@earthlink.net">Alan Barnard</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, April 13, 2006 7:35 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Stability & Favorites Poll</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <P> <DIV>Thought I'd start this thread after visiting, today, number one on my list below ...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What is the most stable piano you tune?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV>Mine is a 1978 Baldwin R. No humidity control, lives in a large church sanctuary where the air/heat are left ON (for a change). Tune every six months, always very close, lotsa freebies, even. Amazing.</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> What is the most improved piano in your territory, stability-wise, and what made the difference?</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV>An ancient (never found a serial number) Chickering Qtr Grand. Residential, much played by talented kids. Was very unstable, wildly out of wack every six months. Installed Dampp-chaser, no undercover (hadn't been introduced). This piano is now quite stable--I'd compare it to a couple of Acrosonics I tune.</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV> What is/was your favorite piano to tune?</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">A small, 2-pedal, Canadian-built upright. Due to refinishing or something, I could never find a name for the thing BUT it was the sweetest tuning piano I ever encountered. It had good scaling and unisons just seemed to fall into place, almost like there was a detent notch at the sweet spot. Plus, since it was smallish (bigger than most consoles, smaller than the Baldwin 6000), I could comfortably tune it sitting down. Great piano.</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">Someone out there might now see this piano as it was owned by a military family (Marine Major) and they have relocated elsewhere. The family name is Paul and the lady's name was Susan, I believe. I recovered the natural keys so they look newer than the rest of the piano.</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>Least favorite?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV>Tie: A Winter & Sons spinet (erk...) and an old Gulbransen console (aaaarghhh... and I wear earphones for the entire tuning.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=ltr>I would joyously, gratefully trade that last one for any Betsy Ross out there!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Alan Barnard</DIV> <DIV>Salem, Missouri</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <P></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>