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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Don Price asked: "<FONT face="Times =
New Roman"
size=3>I guess one thing I do need to know is about pitch. =
Should it be
set at <BR>something less than A440? 20 cents lower, or 50 =
cents? Or
some other <BR>amount?"<BR><BR>Don P,</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>It depends.<G> Most were designed for a lesser pitch of =
435cps, if
made after 1875 or so. Most Steinways, Chickerings, Mathushecks, Mason =
&
Hamlins, Webers, are quite capable of sustaining 440. HOWEVER!, the =
first thing
you MUST DO, is check for "cheek lift". It the piano has it, tune it =
100cents
flat and be done with it. When tuning at a lower pitch, be aware that =
all of the
friction/torque/jamming is less and therefore the piano will not stay in =
tune as
well as if it were tuned to it's "designed" pitch. To find out it's =
designed
pitch, refer to Helmholz. Pianos made before 1875 had designed pitch all =
over
the map, so be cautious. For Square Pianos, I prefer to tune them at =
425cps.
This is generally a safe pitch and is/was the median pitch of that =
period in the
U.S. & U.K.</DIV>
<DIV>If you need more info, please feel free to call me.</DIV>
<DIV>Regards,</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool
Police<BR>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>