<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2668" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk href="mailto:michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk">Michael Gamble</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=joegarrett@earthlink.net href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">Joe Garrett</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, July 03, 2005 7:42 AM</DIV> <DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: Square</DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Joe and List</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We're talking about different = instruments I think - you and I. When I say "remove the dampers" - in the squares I am talking = about ancient squares(1770 or so) and the only way you're going to get = those actions out is <EM>by</EM> removing them! The dampers sit on top of the = strings as per normal, but they are <EM>attached </EM>to the ends of the keys. = The only time you're going to take the dampers off is a radical action problem = time. To remove the top lid on these types is a bit futile - I usually hunt = up some ancient antique chair to rest the lid on behind the piano. The scaling = of tuning pins in these is rather like Harpsichord and you cannot use any standard = tuning hammer. So. We <EM>are</EM> talking about different types of square = piano. I rest my case :-)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>On a beautiful, cool, sunny morning in = the Sussex Village</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael G.(UK)</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=joegarrett@earthlink.net = href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">Joe Garrett</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> Sunday, July 03, 2005 = 5:47 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Square</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hmmmm? Most of the advice, I've been = reading, regarding how to approach a square grand tuning, is completely B.S., IMO!!!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. Remove the damned lid and place it = out of the way! There's a trick to doing this w/o bugging up your = back.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. When a square grand has oblong = pins, there are two systems of tuning hammer/tips that can be used. a. Use a "Y" tip = that has oblong tips at right angles to each other. b. Use a standard oblong = tip that has "converter" attached, so that you can use your standard tuning = hammer/tip combination. "b" is a bit trickier, but is doable</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>3. Do NOT take the dampers off! = Remove only the damper upstop rail. Trying to tune any piano with all of the strings = vibrating is simply an exercise in futility.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>4. Use a standard Tip and Standard = tuning hammer. DO NOT EXTENDED the damned thing! If you do, your accuracy will suffer = greatly and add to your frustration. Note: If you are not, at least, 5' = 8"....OR over 6'2"...Do NOT do squares! (Unless you have a STRONG back and a weak = mind. In which case, you should be a MOVER, not a Tuner!<G>)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>4. You can "Whomp" the key(s) just as = hard as you would with a modern piano. The only difference is that you can not do = a "double strike" w/o taking your finger completely off of the key. (period!)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>5. DO NOT ATTEMPT to improve the = damping!!!!!! It's designed to have "over-ring" and anything you do to get rid of = that is another exercise in futility. (this is the one area that most toooners = screw up a Square Grand most! grrrrr!)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>6. If you have to remove the action, = USE THE HANDLE!!!! Never grab the ends to pull the action!!! (Unless you like = fixing broken hammers/shanks/butts!!!<G></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>7. You MUST have lost motion, just = like in spinets!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>8. If the hammers seem loose, in = their pinning, DO NOT REPIN, unless the bushing is totally trash. Simply adjust the = screw, on the flange to the proper amount of friction. (Two bounces on the rest = rail, is about right. Lift the hammer to the strike point and let fall. The = hammer should bounce twice.<G>)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>9. When reinserting the action, play = every note to allow the damper lift wires to settle back on the lift = felt/leather. ALWAYS DO THIS!!!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>10. DO charge double your regular = tuning rate</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>11. Do take numerous breaks and do = some "stretching/flexing exercises". (I've had a bad back, most of my life = and I don't have any problems with my back because of tuning a Square Grand. = (Period)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I hope this helps those who are nice = enough to attempt tuning these beasties. "Even People 'Who Have Square Grands = Deserve Good Service". (A quote from one of PTG's greats: Emil Fries. I have = taken that sage advice and used it for over thirty = years!<G>)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>For the rest of you NaySayers I say = phutzzzzz and anyone can tune a modern piano....it takes an advanced tuner to do a = Square Grand!<G> phutzzzzzz!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool Police<BR>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>