<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2769" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=593465917-08022006>Greetings all --</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=593465917-08022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=593465917-08022006>I have = been following the conversation on how to tune the fourth string on = a Bluthner piano and what I noticed is that everybody appears to be guessing. = I'm sure that is not really the case, but most of the responses sure read that = way. Anyway, I decided to do a little research and wrote to Bluthner UK = directly. Below is my message to them and one R D Wilson's reply. = </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=593465917-08022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=593465917-08022006>I = recently had the opportunity to look over an older Bluthner concert grand. It had been in = storage and was about to be shipped back out to the owner. In investigating the = fourth string on this piano I sadly discovered that while the ones in the = treble section were fine, all of them in the alto section had been deliberately = damped off with stringing braid. So much for seeing how they might have been = tuned. Why do you suppose this was done?</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=593465917-08022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=593465917-08022006>-- = Geoff Sykes</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=593465917-08022006>-- = Assoc. Los Angeles</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=593465917-08022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=593465917-08022006>================= ========================== ========================== =======</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=593465917-08022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=593465917-08022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT><SPAN class=593465917-08022006> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=thetuner@ivories52.com = href="mailto:thetuner@ivories52.com">Geoff Sykes</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=info@bluthner.co.uk href="mailto:info@bluthner.co.uk">info@bluthner.co.uk</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, February 03, 2006 = 7:03 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Question on fourth = string tuning</DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=093434906-03022006>Greetings --</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=093434906-03022006>Recently, on the Piano Technicians Guild email discussion group, there has been = much talk on the correct way to tune the fourth string on Bluthner pianos. So far everybody admits to be either just guessing, or posting = personal experiences that gave pleasing results to them. I thought that the best = way to find the real answer would be to go to the source. Therefore I have a = couple of questions:</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006>1: Why = was this fourth string introduced to the Bluthner piano, and what is it's purpose?</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006>2: = What is the correct, or suggested, method of tuning that string and how does the = tuning of that string relate to the three unisons below it? In other words, is it = tuned beatless to the unisons below it or is it tuned to a different = partial altogether?</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006>I look = forward to your answers and hope that by adding them into the discussion we might = all learn something.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006>Thanks = --</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006>Geoff Sykes</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=093434906-03022006>Associate Member</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006>Los = Angeles Chapter</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006>Piano = Technicians Guild</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006><SPAN class=593465917-08022006>================= ========================== ========================== </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=093434906-03022006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=093434906-03022006> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Mr Sykes</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thank you for your recent email.  = My apologies for the delay in replying due to my absence from our offices due to illness.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In response to your questions, I should = advise as follows:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1.  Most manufacturers have tried = to create a unique feature to their instruments.  Bluthner was a pioneer of = thinking and development of his pianos and created the Aliquot system as a string = which was affixed to certain models of grand pianos, was never struck but = intended to vibrate in sympathy to surrounding notes when the damper restricting its = movement was lifted.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The new Bluthner catalogue and = technical information on the web site give further details and it should be noted = that an Aliquot system is fitted to all Bluthner grands above the 5' 1"/154cms model.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The early Aliquot system was very = clearly obvious, having its own bridge in the centre of the soundboard covering the alto = and ending just beyond the treble bar break.  An individual brass stud = was fitted to the slim Aliquot bridge and a string affixed.  This = string was damped by a small additional damper on the side of the main = damper.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The principle is that as a piano is = played, the soundboard is naturally vibrating, therefore the Aliquot bridge would be = vibrating, creating vibration on the string which should enhance the = sound obtained.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As with any device, there will always = be critics, but you and your technical friends in the Piano Technicians Guild will = know that the Aliquot is indeed doing something as when trying to tune a Bluthner = grand with the Aliquot system, clear tuning of the struck strings cannot be = undertaken unless the Aliquot strings are damped.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>On new Bluthner grands there is no = separate Aliquot bridge and indeed the inexperienced eye may look at a grand and consider = no Aliquot is fitted. This, as previously stated, is incorrect and the = treble bridge beyond the treble break in the grand has four strings, all using = the main bridge, but the fourth string being slightly higher and not actually hit = by the hammer.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2.  Tuning.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Where the Aliquot strings have their = own individual bridge, the strings should be tuned an octave above the unison.  = Where the Aliquot bridge ceases and Aliquot studs are fitted to the main treble = bridge, they should be tuned in unison or generally slightly sharp to unison.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As a practicing tuner/technician for = some thirty-five/forty years and working extensively on Bluthners, I = personally found that the simplest way to tune these was to initially lay a piece of = listing felt over the Aliquot strings and tune the piano in the normal way, = subsequently returning and playing the note an octave above the Aliquot string that = was to be tuned, plucking the Aliquot string and tuning to the note struck an = octave above.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Obviously when moving to the treble = section where the strings are tuned in unison or just over unison, then the simplest = method is to either pluck the trichord and the Aliquot string or play = the trichord and pluck the string, tuning to unison or just over.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is easy to talk about these things, = but upon re-reading this email, I wonder if I have been clear or not, but hope = this is helpful to you and any of your colleagues.  Could I say = that if any of you should be in the West End of London, we would be delighted to = see you at the new Bluthner showrooms at the address below.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>With best wishes to you = all.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yours sincerely</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>R D Willson</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>---------------------------------------------<BR>Bl�thner = Piano Centre Ltd.<BR>1 Davies Street<BR>Berkeley Square<BR>Mayfair<BR>LONDON W1K = 3DB<BR>Tel. 020 7753 0533<BR>Fax. 020 7753 0535<BR>Email: </FONT><A href="mailto:info@bluthners.co.uk"><FONT face=Arial size=2>info@bluthners.co.uk</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Arial = size=2>Website: </FONT><A href="http://www.bluthners.co.uk/"><FONT face=Arial size=2>www.bluthners.co.uk</FONT></A><BR></DIV></SPAN></DIV></SPAN></FO= NT></DIV></BODY></HTML>