Laura,<div><br></div><div>Really, there is no danger. Tune at A=440.<br><br>When you see a rebuilt 1904 Steinway, do you tune that at A=435? Pianos made since well before 1900 are quite capable of being tuned at A=440. Be not afraid.</div> <div><br></div><div>William R. Monroe</div><div><br></div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 12:23 PM, Laura Olsen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ajoyfulsound@gmail.com" target="_blank">ajoyfulsound@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Hey, Joe<br> You are a hoot! I'll do that next time. Maybe get a waiver.<br> Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!<br> <span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br> Laura<br> </font></span><div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><br> On Nov 22, 2012, at 12:08 PM, "Joseph Garrett" <<a href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">joegarrett@earthlink.net</a>> wrote:<br> <br> > Laura asked:<br> > "You were right, it's a 1914 reproducer (but the reproducer has been<br> > replaced with a Piano Disc system.) The owner says the finish is olive<br> > wood(?) This is the same owner that has the bar-less Broadwood grand. I'm<br> > used to tuning pianos of this vintage at A435. I didn't think the frames<br> > were up to the resultant tension when tuned around A440. The owner would<br> > like them tuned to A440 for the Piano Disc system background music will be<br> > in tune. He's installed the PD system on the Broadwood grand I mentioned<br> > and 2 Broadwood cottage uprights (yes, David, with overdampers) and I've<br> > resisted tuning all these instruments at anything more than A435.<br> ><br> > Am I wrong? Is there no danger?"<br> ><br> > Laura,<br> > No more than any other piano of that vintage. I tune all pianos at 440cps,<br> > unless there is something that tells me not to. Those things are: evidence<br> > of many broken strings; separated pinblock; backposts dislodged; cracked<br> > plate; case malformation, ("cheek lift"); split pinblock areas.....and I'm<br> > sure you could come up with a few more tell tales.<G> I would quote Del<br> > Fandrich in this regard: "Most plates and piano structures are over<br> > engineered."<br> > Per the Barless Broadwood, I think the pitch, at the time those were made,<br> > was 443cps or some other rediculous number. It was noted in the book "By<br> > Appointment". (which I read several years ago and have forgotten most of<br> > the details now.<G>). In other words , Go For It! (just like ya did when<br> > you thanked me for a "vote".<G><br> > Best,<br> > Joe<br> ><br> ><br> > Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<br> > Captain of the Tool Police<br> > Squares R I<br> ><br> </div></div></blockquote></div><br> </div>