<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>"I = have observed that some old pianos that haven't been tuned in many years respond to = pitch raise and tuning much more readily than others. This can only be due to established memory."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This sounds like a bunch of = poppycock! Established memory? Maybe a persistent bend in a string, but established = memory? Way too romantic. Is this theory promulgated by the originators = of "the circle of sound"?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any chance, as compared to = a newer piano, that this old piano simply has strings that have lost much of = their elasticity and has a flat soundboard? I wouldn't call such a condition "established memory", but rather "lack of function".</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I remember one time that I = pitch raised to A440 and tuned an old turn-of-the-century Kimball upright that = was a good 200 cents flat when I started. I got called back three years later = to tune it again. I provided a little extra time for that service appointment = because I KNEW the piano would require at least a = 10 to 25 cent pitch raise (if not larger). That old gal surprised me as it was = right up to pitch. Established memory? I really don't think so. Non-elastic = strings and a flat soundboard? Seems much more likely to me.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry = Farrell</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"><o:p> </o:p></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> >One thing we didn't mention in the = discussion of pitch raise, and help <o:p></o:p> >with 'bad tuning', is established = memory. If the piano has had a well <o:p></o:p> >established memory at one time, it = is easier to re-establish that memory.<o:p></o:p> >  <o:p></o:p> ><o:p> </o:p> Oh I like this concept.... Please... = elaborate on what exactly you mean <o:p></o:p> and how you think a piano can manage to = achieve such an attribute.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> >Kenny Finlayson,<o:p></o:p> >RPT<o:p></o:p> >  <o:p></o:p> ><o:p> </o:p> Cheers<o:p></o:p> RicB<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Hi = RicB:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I happen to be playing Grieg’s Lyrische = Stucke at the moment. Very beautiful stuff. <o:p> </o:p> By piano memory, I refer to the stretching of = the extremely hard piano wire, what we used to call ‘music wire,’ = across a cast iron, what we used to call ‘pig iron,’ plate. <o:p> </o:p> It never ceases to amaze me how old = pianos say of 80 – 100 years, manage to stay together and support the tremendous = pressure exerted by the tension of the wire, cumulatively of approximately 18 = tons. It says a lot for their sturdy construction, put together with hide glue, = what we used to call ‘horse glue.’   <o:p> </o:p> Does it sound like I’m getting over the = hill? I turned 60 recently. <o:p> </o:p> When the piano has reached a point where = it will hold its pitch, the memory is said to be established.   I have observed that some old pianos = that haven't been tuned in many years respond to pitch raise and tuning much more = readily than others. This can only be due to established memory. If a piano = teacher in the 1920's had the piano tuned two or three times a year for 20 years, = the memory would certainly be well established. A similar old piano, tuned = only every several years, may not ever have had good memory established, = and could conceivably go through all its life without being in tune; and this = must be the piano that falls in pitch almost immediately after pitch raise and = tuning.   Well established memory is an enviable = achievement for any piano. It can only happen by repeated regular tunings and care by = qualified piano technicians.   Best wishes for the season.   Kenny Finlayson, = RPT</DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML= >